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HISTORICAL RECORD

THE ROYAL MARINE FORCES.

VOL. I.

♦

" NEQU1D PAL.il D1CERE AUDFAT,
NEQUID VEK1 NON AUDEAT."

( 'ii-crii

HISTORICAL RECO;

" — IP

ROYAL MARINE FOR

By PAUL HARRIS NICOLAS,

Lieut. Royal Marines.

VOL. I.

LONDON:
THOMAS AND WILLIAM BOONE, 29, NEW BOND STREET.

MDCCCXLV.

%2>|4-

LONDON' :

PRINTED BY MAURICE, CLARK, AND CO.

FF.NCHURCH STREET.

THE BRITISH NATION,

THIS RECORD

THE SERVICES OF

THE ROYAL MARINE FORCES

most respectfully inscribed
by

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

From an early period a practice has prevailed in many of
the continental armies, for each regiment to keep regular re-
cords of its services and achievements ; but it is only of recent
date that this emulative principle has been encouraged in the
British service, and hence arises the difficulty of obtaining
any authentic account of their origin, or of their subsequent
proceedings.

This defect has long been felt, and although efforts have
been made by individual corps to accomplish so desirable an
object, it was not generally enforced until the 13th January,
1836, when the following order was issued from the Horse
Guards by general lord Hill, commanding in chief: —

" His Majesty has been pleased to command, that with a
view of doing the fullest justice to regiments, as well as to
individuals, who have distinguished themselves by bravery in
action with the enemy, an account of the services of every
regiment in the British army shall be published under the
superintendence of the adjutant-general, and that this account
shall contain the following particulars ; viz. — The period and
circumstances of the original formation of the regiment; the
stations at which it has been from time to time employed ;

Vlll PREFACE.

the battles, sieges, and other military operations in which it
has been engaged, particularly specifying any achievement it
may have performed, and the colours, trophies, &c. it may have
captured from the enemy. The names of the officers, and num-
ber of non-commissioned officers and privates, killed or wound-
ed by the enemy, specifying the place and date of the action.
The names of the officers who, in consideration of their gal-
lant services and meritorious conduct in engagements with the
enemy, have been distinguished with titles, medals, or other
marks of his Majesty's gracious favour. The names of all
such officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, as may
have specially signalized themselves in action ; and the badges
and the devices which the regiment may have been permitted
to bear, and the causes on account of which such badges or de-
vices, or any other marks of distinction, have been granted."

Impressed with this consideration, and influenced by a strong
attachment to the welfare and reputation of the corps, in which
I had the honour to serve, I felt persuaded that an impartial
account of the services of the Royal Marines would not only
reflect additional lustre on their distinguished character, but en-
courage a spirit of emulation, which is the strongest impulse to
great and gallant actions ; and as nothing can so fully tend to
this desirable object as a faithful record of their glorious career,
I was induced to use my best exertions to promote a cause for
which I entertained the most lively interest. Although I may
have failed in accomplishing that object with the ability due to
its importance, I trust that the fidelity and zeal which has been
exercised in the present compilation will obtain for me the in-
dulgent consideration of those who are aware of the difficulties
with which I have had to contend.

PREFACE. IX

In expressing my obligation to the friends who have kindly
rendered me their cordial assistance, I cannot but regret the in-
difference of many officers to impart information relating to their
individual services. Thus circumstanced, I have been denied
the satisfaction of recording many gallant achievements that
would have added to their personal reputation, and redounded
to the honour of the corps.

Moreover, the despatches of naval commanders are generally
so limited in their mention of officers of marines, that without
the information that has been withheld it would be impracticable
to do them justice; and in some instances much difficulty and
research have been necessary, to enable me to ascertain the
names of individuals who had shared in enterprises of such
merit, as procured promotion for officers in the sister service.

I have nevertheless anxiously endeavoured to obtain the
name of every officer who was employed on any affair of im-
portance ; and, where omissions or errors have occurred, I must
hope that the comprehensive extent of this work may be
offered as some extenuation for the inadvertency.

In narrating these events, I have strictly adhered to the offi-
cial reports ; and although this record must fail to do the Royal
Marines ample justice, I trust that sufficient has been said to
prove that their distinguished repute is well merited ; and that
they have under all circumstances, whether in the presence of
the enemy or by their undeviating loyalty to the throne, uni-
formly supported the honour of their colours.

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

From the earliest Period to 1755.

Gibraltar taken, p. 9 — Majorca. 13— Porto Bello, 19 — Northumberland
captured, 28— Cape Breton, 30 — L'Orient, 31 — Defeat of La Jonquiere
and L'Etendeur, 32 — Pondicherry, 34 Chebuctoo, 39.

CHAPTER II.

From the year 1/55 to 1775.

Fort St. Philip, 44— Senegal, 45 — Cape Breton, 47 — Fort Royal, 49 —
De la Clue, 51 — Hawke and Conflans, 52 — Marine sinecurists, 54 —
Belleisle, 58 — The "Laurel," 62 — Unicorn and squadron, 63 — Capture
of Courageux, 64 — Port Royal, 67 — Havanna, 69 — St. John's, 71 —
Manilla, 75— America, 79 — Two battalions, 81.

CHAPTER III.

From the year 1775 to 1792.

Bunker's Hill, 85 — War declared, 96 — Lion and Maidstone, 100 — Are-
thusa and Belle Poule, 101 — Combined fleet, 102 — Savanna, 104 — Que-
bec and Surveillante, 107 — Rodney and Langara, 108 — Attack upon
Charlestown, 111 — Flora and Nymphe, 113 — Bienfaisant, 114 — Gibral-
tar bombarded, 115 — Dogger-bank, 118 — Hughes and Le Suffren, 125 —
Rodney and De Grasse, 130 — Gibraltar bombarded, 133 — Foudroyant
and Pegase, 137.

CHAPTER IV.

From the year 1792 to 1796.

Venus and Semillante, 141 — Lord Hood at Toulon, 142 — Boston and Em
buscade, 148 — Attack on Fornelli, 149 — Crescent and Reunion, 152 —
Romney and Sibylle, 155 — Artois and Revolutionaire, 156 — Battle of
1st of June, 158 — Blanche and Pique, 163 — Astrea and Gloire, 164 —
Action off l'Orient, 167 — Unite captured, 172 — Unicorn and Tribune,
173 — Southampton, 174 — Glatton and french frigates, 175 — Mermaid
and Vengeance, 176 — Terpsichore and Vestal, 177-

XH CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V.

From the year 1 7U7 to 1799.

Droits de 1' Homme, 180— Battle off St. Vincent, 181 — Attack on Santa Cruz,
186 — Battle of Camperdown, 190 — Guard of honour, 195 — Mutiny at
Spithead and the Nore, 197 — Serjeants O'Neal and Gilhorn, 207 —
Hermione, 209 — Mars and Hercide, 211 — Lion and Dorotea, 212 —
Battle of the Nile, 217— Leander and Gen£reux, 225 — Defence of St.
Marcon, 226 — Capture of the Hoche, 228 — Anson and Loire, 229 —
Capture of Seine, 230 — Ambuscade and Baionnaise, 231.

CHAPTER VI.

From the year 1779 to 1801.

Destruction of Preneuse, 233 — Defence of Acre, 236 — Blockade of Naples,
246— St. Elmo, 249— Forte and Sibylle, 255— Mutiny in Bantry Bay,
252 — Hermione, 254 — Capture of Guillaume Tell, 261— Surrender of
Malta, 261 — Queen Charlotte, 263 — Prima galley, 264 — Bourgneuf,
267 — Seine and Vengeance, 268 — Guepe, 269.

CHAPTER VII.

From the year 1801 to 1804.

Battle of Copenhagen, 275 — Phoebe and Africaine, 282 — Porto Ferrajo,
284— Chevrette, 286— Egypt, 291— Battle of Algesiras, 301— Mutiny
on board the Castor, 308 — "Royal Marines," 311— Mutiny in West
Indies, 313 — Peace of Amiens, 314 — Minerve, 315 —Capture of Albion,
316— Fort Dunkirk, 318.

CHAPTER VIII.

From the year 1804 to 1805.

Curacoa, 320 — La Vaudour, 323 — San Fiorenzo and Psyche, 326 — Cleo-
patra and Ville de Milan, 327 — Muros, 330 — Blanche and Topaze, 332 —
Phoenix and Didon, 333 — Action off Ferrol, 337 — Combined fleet sails
from Cadiz, 341— Battle of Trafalgar, 343— Royal Sovereign, 347—
Belleisle, 348— Mars, 349— Tonnant, 350— BeUerophon, 351— Colossus,
352 — Dreadnought, 353— Polyphemus and Revenge, 354 — Thunderer
and Defiance, 355.

CURSORY RECORD

THE ROYAL MARINES,

From their Formation to the present Period.

Until the year 1664 the british navy was manned by means of
the system of impress, or by enlisting landsmen ; but the com-
merce of England at that period was so limited, that those
measures were found inadequate to procure sufficient seamen
for the public service, and this difficulty suggested the for-
mation of an establishment of marines. The men were raised
with the object of forming a nursery to man the fleet, and
being quartered in or near the principal sea-ports, their great
utility in the equipment of squadrons soon made it desirable
to augment their strength.

1664. The first order in Council which has reference to this
subject, is dated the 16th of October, 1664, authorizing 1200
soldiers to be raised and formed into one regiment.

1684. The third regiment of the line was called the " Ma-
ritime Regiment," and also the "Admiral's Regiment;" but the
system of having soldiers exclusively for sea-service does not
appear to have been carried into effect until the year 1698,
when a draft of an establishment for two marine regiments was
presented to William the Third, who by his order in Council of
the 22nd of February, 1694, authorized their formation, sub-
ject to certain regulations, as hereafter detailed.
vol. i. b

X CURSORY RECORD OF

1697. In this year half-pay was first granted to the officers
of marines.

1699. At the commencement of 1799, four regiments of
marines were directed to be levied ; but in consequence of the
peace of Ryswick, such men as had been raised were shortly
afterwards ordered to be disbanded.

1702. On the 1st of June, on the declaration of war with
France and Spain, six regiments were ordered by Queen Anne in
council to be levied, and " six other regiments for sea-service."

1713. In consequence of the treaty of Utrecht, by which
peace was proclaimed on the 31st of March, the whole of the
marine regiments were disbanded at the close of the year.

1714. The corps was established at four invalid companies.
From this period, no marine force existed until

1739. On the 12th of December the order in Council di-
rected the levy of six regiments ; and on the following January
these regiments received an effective augmentation of 2,040
men. Early in 1740 three additional regiments of marines
were also raised in America.

1741. The number of marine regiments augmented to ten,
each of 1000 strong; and they were commanded by generals
and colonels of the line.

1743, and three following years, the establishment was di-
rected to be 11,550 men.

1744. Impressed men were allotted to each regiment; and
to those who entered voluntarily, £4 per man was given, with
the power to claim his discharge at the end of three years.

1747. The levy of marines was 11,150, and the establish-
ment for each ship fixed at the following numbers : —

Ships of 100 and of 90 guns, to have 100 marines ; of 80 guns,
to have 80 marines ; of 70 guns, to have 70 marines ; of 60 and
of 50 guns, to have 60 marines ; of 40 guns, 50 marines ; of 20
guns, 30 marines : — sloops, 20 marines.

It was proposed that the marine regiments should be placed
altogether under the orders of the lords commissioners of the

THE ROYAL MARINES. XI

Admiralty ; but this arrangement was not finally adopted until
the year 1755.

1748. In consequence of the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, the
marine force was totally disbanded at the close of the year.

1755. Upon the renewal of hostilities at the commencement
of this year, a levy of fifty companies of marines was ordered,
and they were for the first time formed into three divisions, sta-
tioned at Chatham, Portsmouth, and Plymouth. This is also
the first date of marine commissions not being purchased, and
of the officers rising in regular rotation only. On its establish-
ment, the corps consisted of 3 lieutenant-colonels, 3 majors,
50 captains, 50 first-lieutenants, and 100 second-lieutenants,
who were taken from the line and former marine regiments.
The field-officers were, major-generals Patterson and Drury,
and colonel Gordon, to be lieutenant-colonels ; and lieut.-colonel
Bendy she, with majors Leighton and Burleigh, to be majors.

The intercourse by exchange to the army was open to the
officers of marines, and in the course of a few years twelve of
the first-appointed captains returned to the line ; eight of whom
were lieutenant-colonels, and four of them were majors, in 1766.
Of that number were sir Robert Abercrombie, Alexander
Leslie, William Picton, Henry Grame, Charles Grey, and John
Johnstone.

1756. The marines was augmented to 9,138 men, adding
thirty companies to the establishment of the previous year.

1757. Twenty companies were added, making 110 com-
panies, and the total number of men established, 11,419.

In 1758 they were further increased to 140 companies,
amounting to 14,845 men, which force was continued until

1760, when the marines amounted to 18,355, being more
than one fourth of the naval force. In consequence of a repre-
sentation from the commandants of divisions, that more field-
officers were required for the better discipline of the service,
three naval captains were appointed colonels of marines, with
forty shillings per diem ; and the only marine colonel, general

b 2

Xll CURSORY RECORD OF

Patterson, was placed on the retirement with £700 per annum :
thus banishing all hopes of higher preferment than the rank of
lieutenant-colonel. This arrangement created such dissatisfac-
tion in the corps, that a memorial, expressive of their deep
sense of the injustice, in placing officers over them so perfectly
incapable to command troops in the field, or conducting the de-
tails of military discipline on shore, was presented to the lords
commissioners of the Admiralty, (Appendix 9). In addition to
this humiliating measure, the circumscribed establishment on
the peace of 1763 produced so much discontent, that many offi-
cers, seeing their prospects thus destroyed, quitted the marines
and entered the army, where some rose to the highest rank. The
appointment of lord Hood to the command of the Chatham divi-
sion is dated 26th of March, 1763; and we have given insertion
to two documents, to show that his lordship actually exercised
the duties of that office, (Appendix 2. and 3). It soon became
evident that this anomaly could not exist without great detri-
ment to the public service ; and on the 26th of April lord
Howe wrote to colonel Bendyshe, "that as he is appointed a
lord of the Admiralty, his (lord Howe's) attendance at the ma-
rine head- quarters is to be dispensed with." From that period,
no naval officer was permitted to interfere with the military
duties of the divisions ; but despite of the earnest memorials
that were presented, complaining of this degrading infliction,
the nominal colonels of marines retained their forty shillings
per diem ; admiral Boscawen, general of marines, his £2000 per
annum; and sir C. Saunders, lieut.-gen., his £1200; and shortly
afterwards a naval major-general was added to the establishment.
From the assurances given by the Board of Admiralty, on the
formation of the corps in 1 755, that they should receive every
advantage with regard to their individual promotion, the ma-
rines had a right to expect protection and encouragement ; and
it was not therefore surprising, that on finding their remon-
strance disregarded, and their hopes of preferment destroyed, a
vast number withdrew from the service.

THE ROYAL MARINES. Xlll

1762. The corps was augmented to 19,061 men, but in

1763, the peace establishment reduced the marines to 4,287
men, at which it continued until

1771, when colonels of marines were appointed commandants
of divisions. In this year, the marines discharged from the
service obtained the right of following their trade in any town
in the kingdom, except the universities.

The earl of Sandwich succeeded to the office of first lord of
the Admiralty, and his ready attention to the memorials of the
marines (Appendix 4), by reviving their hopes of promotion,
restored that spirit of discipline which characterized the bat-
talions sent by his lordship to America, in

1776, when the establishment amounted to 10,129 men.

1777,

11,829

1778,

17,389

1779,

}■>

18,779

1780,

■>■)

20,308

>»

1781,

21,305

))

1782,

25,291

1783,

25,291

1784.

The

peace

reduced the

establishment to 4,495 men,

including six field-officers with their companies, viz. three lieu-
tenant-colonels and three majors; but on the formation of the
expedition for Botany Bay, whilst four companies were added,
those of the field-officers remained reduced. On the retirement
of lord Howe, the earl of Chatham became first lord of the
Admiralty, and in consequence of the presentation of a memorial
from the three divisions (Appendix 5), the field-officers and their
companies were restored. In 1791, on a memorial being pre-
sented, (Appendix 6,) an invalid establishment was formed,
allowing the following officers to retire : — one commandant on
24s. per diem, one lieutenant-colonel, one major, twelve captains,
six first-lieutenants, and three second-lieutenants.

1792. Lodging-money was allowed at the following rates : —
commandants 20s, per week, field-officers 12s., captains 8s., and

XIV CURSORY RECORD OF

subalterns 6s. The non-commissioned officers and privates ob-
tained the privilege of allotting.

1793. On the declaration of war with France, the marines
were increased to 9,815 men.

In consequence of the field-officers being restored, and the
establishment of an invalid retirement, several officers, who had
quitted the active service, determined on returning to the effec-
tive corps ; a circumstance that would have been attended with
so much injustice to those who had continued in the service,
and more particularly to the junior ranks, that it was resolved
to resist such applications; for they had already experienced
the injury arising from officers rejoining. Memorials (Appen-
dix 7) were sent to the Board of Admiralty from each division
to this effect : — " That all officers may take rank and do duty
in the corps from the date of their last appointment, receive
promotion, and be placed on the list accordingly." The memo-
rials were acceded to and enforced until a recent period, when
a few officers were permitted to rejoin ; but this infraction, which
was on a very limited scale, arose from a resolution of Mr. Hume,
that he would not consent to the retirement of officers on full-
pay, or selling out, while serviceable officers remained on half-
pay. Only four or five rejoined the corps, and about forty
quitted the service.

In 1794, the establishment was increased to 12,115 men, in
consequence of a general memorial to earl Spencer, then first
lord of the Admiralty (Appendix 8), presented by general Sou-
ter ; which having obtained his lordship's favourable considera-
tion, twenty-one companies were added, including those of six
field-officers ; and the levy-money was also increased to eight
guineas.

In 1795, the marines were further augmented to 15,000 men.

In consequence of some differences arising with regard to the
regiments of the line doing duty as marines in the fleet, they
were ordered to be disembarked, and many of the men were
permitted to enlist in the marines at an additional bounty of five

THE ROYAL MARINES. XV

guineas; and on the 15th of November the levy-money was
increased to fifteen pounds, which allowed ten guineas and a
crown bounty to each recruit : this arrangement gave such fresh
vigour to the corps, that the companies were soon completed to
their full strength.

1796. The vote for the sea-service affording no extension
to the corps, an earnest memorial was addressed to the earl
Spencer (Appendix 9); and in consequence of that application
nine companies were added, with a second-lieutenant to each
company, which was increased to 8 Serjeants, 8 corporals, 8
drummers, and 113 privates each. In November, six more com-
panies were added, and seven additional privates to every com-
pany, which then consisted of 120 men. At the same time three
colonels and second-commandants were added to the establish-
ment of the corps.

1797 and 1798. The establishment of marines continued the
same as in 1796.

An order in Council of July 1797, fixed the pay of marines

at the following rates : —

Serjeants. Corporals.

s. d. s.
Onboard, 12 0 10

On shore, 1 6| 1

1798. During the disturbances that took place in various
parts of the kingdom, the loyalty of the troops was unshaken ;
and the example of devotion to their Sovereign which was first
shown by the marines at Chatham, then commanded by lieu-
tenant-general Innes, was eagerly followed by the soldiers of
the line in that garrison. The public journals were daily filled
with the loyal resolutions of various corps, and the seditious
designs of the secret agitators entirely frustrated. Serjeant
Pinn of the Chatham division particularly distinguished himself
upon this occasion, and as a recompense for his excellent con-
duct the lieutenant-general granted him his discharge; but as
this wras done without the sanction of the Board of Admiralty,

>rals.

Drum1"3.

Privates.

s. d.

0 10

0 6 per diem.

*og

1 1£

1 o „

XVI CURSORY RECORD OF

the general was tried by a court-martial for a breach of the
Articles of War. Although there was no positive sanction of
the Board for the step he had taken, yet it appeared in evidence
that the earl of St. Vincent, (then the first lord.) in a conversa-
tion with general Innes upon the subject, had approved of the
measure ; consequently the court pronounced an honourable
acquittal.

His Royal Highness the Duke of York, commander of the
forces, wrote to lieutenant-general Innes, expressing his high
approbation of the loyalty and example shown by the Chatham
division, (see Appendix 10) ; and the lords commissioners of
the Admiralty also conveyed their satisfaction of their loyalty
and zeal.

1799. Strength of the marines, 22,716 men.

1800 and 1801. Ditto, 24,231 men.

1802. In commemoration of the distinguished services per-
formed by the marines during the war, his Majesty was gra-
ciously pleased to honour them with the style of " Royal Ma-
rines."

1803. Establishment of the corps in 1802 was 12,119 men ;
but in 1803 it was increased to 22,467. Many officers were
allowed the retirement, and through the advocacy of earl St.
Vincent, it was made an open list.

1804. Lord Melville became first lord of the Admiralty.
An order in Council, dated the 18th of August, authorized the
formation of a company of artillery at each of the three divi-
sions. The total force of the Marines at this period was 29,000
men .

In 1805, Lord Barham presided at the Board of Admiralty ;
and on the 15th of August an order in Council ordered a new
division to be established at Woolwich, with an additional com-
pany of artillery. The strength of the corps was now 30,000
men, including four companies of artillery.

In 1806, Lord Howick succeeded lord Barham as first lord of
the Admiralty. Nothing particular occurred during the short

THE ROYAL MARINES. XVU

time he was at the Board ; but under his successor, the earl of
Mulgrave, the corps obtained many advantages ; for his lordship
being a military man, was better capable of comprehending the
real and combined interests of the corps with that of the public
service. He appointed an additional lieutenant-colonel and a
major to the Woolwich division, placing it on the same footing
as the other three ; and at the same time ten companies were
added to the establishment of the corps, to appropriate the men
already raised, but not attached. Second-captains were appoint-
ed to the companies as the pay-captains, which gave promotion
to sixteen first and sixteen second-lieutenants.

From 1807 to 1815, the establishment remained at 31,400;
but there were frequently more than 3000 supernumeraries.

In February 1809, a second-commandant was added to each
division, and the pay of the commandant in London increased
to £3 per diem, colonels in command of divisions, £2. 10s.,
second-commandants, £1. 10s., and the same emolument was
extended to those on the retired list; whilst the brevet officers
on that establishment obtained 2s. per diem.

From 1809 to the peace in 1814, no general promotion took
place in the Marines, nor at the latter period were all the va-
cancies of officers killed in action filled up ; and although there
were 5000 supernumeraries actually serving afloat without offi-
cers attached to them, the senior captains had been from thirty-
five to thirty-two years in the service, notwithstanding the
many advances that had been conferred on the various ranks in
the navy. This circumstance is more fully noticed in our ex-
tracts from the Naval and Military Commission ; and two me-
morials on the subject will be found in Appendix, Nos. 11, 12.

In 1812, the field-officers below the rank of commandant-en-
second, who had attained the rank of major-general, became
supernumeraries, and were excused from active duty ; such duty
being performed by field-officers promoted in consequence of
these vacancies.

On the 4th of March, 1813, an order in Council established

XV111 CURSORY RECORD OF

the rates of officers' pensions on the same footing with the army.
At the reduction of the corps in 1814, the non-commissioned
officers and privates loudly expressed their disappointment in
not being allowed a pension for length of service, on the same
footing with their brother-soldiers in the line, and in compliance
with the Admiralty-order of 5th of July, 1814, (Appendix 13,)
the men were desired by their commanding-officer "on no con-
sideration to trouble the lords of the Admiralty respecting pen-
sions, unless absolutely worn out in the service, so as to be
rendered incapable of labour." This unjust determination of
the Board gave rise to a letter entitled, The Royal Marine to
the Friends of his Country and its brave Defenders, which, on
being circulated in the barracks at Chatham, tended to increase
the discontent that prevailed ; but shortly afterwards the claims
of those gallant and loyal veterans obtained due consideration,
and pensions were awarded them.

In April 1814 lord Melville presided at the Board of Admi-
ralty, when general Barclay, lieutenant-generals Elliott and
Bright, with major-general Burn, were allowed to retire ; major-
generals Strickland, Winter, Lewis, and Williams succeeding
to the command of the four divisions, while major-general Bell
was appointed commandant in London. In September 5 lieu-
tenant-colonels, 6 majors, with some captains and subalterns,
were also allowed to retire, but none of the vacancies caused by
these retirements were filled up ; and although every other
branch of his Majesty's service obtained considerable promo-
tion, there was a total cessation of such reward extended to the
marines for a period of six years. The consequences of this in-
justice has been most detrimental to the establishment, exclud-
ing many officers from the benefits of succeeding brevets, who
now remain to be provided for.

On the 15th of August the half-pay was increased, which
equalized it with officers of the same rank in the line.

We must now particularly direct the attention of our readers
to the manly and energetic letter addressed to the right hon.

THE ROYAL MARINES. XIX

Charles Yorke, then first lord of the Admiralty, by colonels
Desborough and Tench, in March 1811, calling his attention to
the neglected position of the corps, (Appendix 16). Mr. Yorke,
in acknowledging the receipt of this letter, informed colonel
Desborough "that the subject was still under the considera-
tion of the Board;" but no further satisfaction was given to
this firm, yet respectful remonstrance.

Confining our remarks to a mere outline of the progress of
the corps, we have placed in the Appendix some of the nume-
rous memorials that were from time to time presented to the
Board of Admiralty. These documents will be found deserving
of an attentive perusal ; for while they exhibit a painful contrast
to the advantages enjoyed by other branches of his Majesty's
service, they evince that respectful submission and forbearance
which has ever characterized the corps of Marines; and they at
the same time afford indisputable evidence, that with the excep-
tion of being styled " Royal," the corps has never been honoured
by any spontaneous act of favour ; and that every amelioration
has been obtained either by respectful remonstrance, or by ear-
nest supplication.

1815. On the 5th of July the pay of adjutants was increased.

1816. In consequence of the peace, the establishment was
reduced to eighty companies, consisting of battalion companies,
5,760; four artillery companies, 368; staff, 94: making a total
of 6,222 men.

1817. By order in Council of the 25th November, the corps
was fixed at 6,235 men, in eighty companies, of which eight
were artillery: and in 1818 and 1819 at 6,000 men.

1820. On the 6th of May an order in Council regulated the
pay of q uarter-masters.

1820 to 1822. The corps was increased to 8,000 men.

1823. It was augmented to 8,700 men, distributed in eighty-
five divisional and eight artillery companies.

1824. The establishment was 9,000 men, at which it con-
tinued until 1832, when it was increased to 10,500.

XX CURSORY RECORD OF

1825. Appointment of a colonel-commandant and deputy
adjutant-general of marines, resident in London.

1826. Increase of the pay of adjutants on the 12th of Sep-
tember.

1832. The establishment of the Marines increased to 10,000
men ; and on the 6th of February an order in Council abolished
the corps of Royal Marine Artillery.

This battalion, originally selected from a corps of 30,000
men, and which had progressively risen to eminence and dis-
tinction, was immediately broken up, " retaining two companies
as a nucleus to form a greater body, which might hereafter be
deemed advisable."

The impolicy of this measure soon became apparent, and the
companies of marine artillery have been gradually increased
until they have reached to about the same numerical strength
as their establishment in 1823, (but still shorn of its field-offi-
cers,) when they were formed into eight companies, as we shall
presently show.

By referring to the minutes of the Board of Admiralty in the
Appendix, relative to the marine artillery, it will be observed
that they were intended for the training of the other marines, so
as to embark efficient artillery-men in others of his Majesty's
ships as well as in bombs, " experience having "proved the great
advantage to he derived to the service from this practice."

1832. On the 12th of April an order in Council ordered the
promotion of four lieutenant-colonels to be second-command-
ants ; thus creating vacancies in the subordinate ranks.

1833. The report of the Committee of the House of Com-
mons on army and navy appointments, recommended the abo-
lition of the sinecures of generals and colonels of marines, en-
joyed by naval officers. (See further remarks in 1837.)

1834. On the 30th of April additional retirements on full
and half-pay.

1836. On the 11th of May an order in Council abolished
the office of Inspector-general of Marines.

THE ROYAL MARINES, XXI

The creation of this office, in March 1831, produced a feeling
of dissatisfaction in the corps, that called for loud and general
remonstrance ; for it will scarcely be credited that the appoint-
ment was conferred upon a civilian (he having sold out of the
service many years previously) totally unconnected with the
Marines, and who, to have authority and control over the
colonels of divisions, was created a major-general. This act
of injustice produced a feeling of respectful remonstrance, until
the discontent became too apparent to be disregarded; and ano-
ther Board of Admiralty, with a due consideration for the wel-
fare of the corps, removed the "Inspector-general," and restored
the command of the Marines to the hands of one of its distin-
guished veterans.

1837. On the 21st of June an order in Council gave six
additional retirements of full-pay for colonels-commandant,
which placed the establishment as follows : —

Eight for colonels-commandant ; two for colonels, second-
commandant ; four for lieutenant-colonels ; twenty-five for cap-
tains ; ten for first-lieutenants.

It must be a very rare and extraordinary circumstance that
would induce a second-commandant to take the retirement;
for being so near a preferment of much greater consideration,
it is not to be expected that a man would forego the advantage
almost within his reach. By adding those two offices, (which
are never filled), to those of colonels-commandant, a boon would
be conferred on the corps ; but to accelerate promotion and im-
prove the health and vigour of the service, the commandants of
divisions ought to be placed on the same footing as the ap-
pointments in the royal navy, in which service they are limited
to a certain period ; and when vacancies occurred on the retired
list, and a commandant of division had held that office four
years, he should be compelled to withdraw from active service
on the honourable and liberal retirement afforded him.

Another order in Council of the same date abolished the
rank of major, making the establishment— four colonels, four

XXII

CURSORY RECORD OF

colonels-en-second, twelve lieutenant-colonels, four divisional
pay-masters, four barrack-masters, four surgeons, four assistant-
surgeons. Another lieutenant-colonel was subsequently added,
exclusive of the officers of artillery.

It will be seen, by the following statement, that in abolish-
ing the rank of major, the corps was deprived of four field-
officers : —

Establishment of the
Corps, in

Colonels-
Commandant
in London.

~v c

C CS

J2 c

c £

u g

Colonels

Second

Commandant.

= t/5

C «

I 1

00 00 Majors.

c
"3

p.
a
U

.e s

CO _aj

January, 1837..
January, 1838...

4
4

9
13

105
93

106
124

86
64

Difference

—

1837. By an Admiralty- order of the 14th of July, a regula-
tion was introduced for the pensions to the non-commissioned
officers and privates to this effect: — "Twenty-one years' service
at sea or on foreign service, shall entitle him to his discharge and
pension; two years' service on shore in England shall be allowed
to reckon as one year served afloat for this purpose ; but no
marine shall be entitled to such pension, who shall not have
served ten years actually at sea or on foreign service."

It would be difficult to comprehend the object intended by
this unjust, degrading, and injurious restriction. We can un-
derstand that the disinclination of a soldier to embark when
required should be punished ; but because a marine obediently
and loyally does his duty in the various garrisons, in conjunc-
tion with the troops of the line, that he shall be deprived of the
reward held out to those of every other corps in her Majesty's
service, is a stipulation as inequitable as it is destructive of the
best interests of the service. Its effect has long been felt in
procuring recruits for the Marines ; and as the pernicious sys-

THE ROYAL MARINES. XX1H

tern has been deprecated by those, who with the desire to pro-
mote the welfare of the corps are now in a position to support
the claims of those enduring servants of the crown, we have
reason to expect that the order of 1837 will be rescinded.

1837. On the 12th of June the lords commissioners of the
Admiralty, taking into consideration the recommendation of the
House of Commons of 1833, to appropriate the sinecures of
general, lieutenant-general, major-general, and colonel of ma-
rines for the creation of pensions to be given as rewards for
distinguished and good services to officers of the navy and
marines, determined that the amount of £1728. 15s. per annum
to the general of marines, which became available on the death
of lord de Saumarez ; and the four colonelcies, on the death of
sir C. Cole and the promotion of captains Skipsey, Irby, and
Bouverie, amounting to £2,761. 16s. 8c?., should be appropriated
to create six pensions of £300 for flag-officers, and eighteen
pensions of £150 per annum for officers of the rank of captain
of the navy, and general officers and colonels of marines, but
to cease on their promotion or appointment to service.

Thus terminated an iniquitous system which, in spite of
earnest and respectful remonstrance, had continued in force
seventy-four years ; for however deserving the gallant officers
of the navy undoubtedly were to rewards from the nation, it
was unjustifiable to take this emolument from a corps that was
so eminently entitled to consideration and recompense for its
important services.

1838. A supernumerary captain of artillery appointed on
the 15th of May.

On the 26th of June a commission of inquiry into the sys-
tem of naval and military promotion and retirement, had its
first sitting. This proceeding originated in the spontaneous
efforts of a certain member of Parliament, who, seeing how
much the officers of marines were aggrieved, independently
espoused their cause, and brought the matter before the House
of Commons.

XXIV CURSORY RECORD OF

Colonel Sir Richard Williams of the marines, and a member
of the Commission, explained to the Board the object of this
inquiry ; and we deem the observations of that gallant officer
of so much importance, that we have been induced to make
extracts from his remarks :

" In January 1837, there were upon the list of officers actually
serving, one colonel-commandant resident in London, and four
colonels, each in the command of a division, who had not been
less than fifty-eight years in the service; 21 field-officers forty-
five years; the senior captains more than thirty-five years;
and more than 50 subalterns who had been upwards of twenty-
five years in that rank. The retired list at that time was limited
to two colonels-commandant, three lieutenant-colonels, three
majors, twenty captains, twelve first and ten second-lieutenants;
and although two of the colonels in command of divisions had
applied for permission to retire, they could not obtain it. Under
these circumstances there was much discontent, and the subject
was at length brought forward in the House of Commons by
lord George Lennox, who advocated the pretensions of the
officers to promotion; and his lordship was only induced to with-
draw his motion, upon assurance on the part of the secretary
of the Admiralty that the Board had it in contemplation to do
what he thought would be beneficial to the service, and ac-
ceptable to the Royal Marines, whose merits had been ac-
knowledged. The dissolution of Parliament stopped all fur-
ther proceedings for the moment ; but before a new Parliament
had assembled, a measure was carried into effect which was
satisfactory to the corps, but injurious to the service, and
tending to cripple it in one material branch; and although the
House of Commons, with great liberality, agreed to afford relief
by a vote for any reasonable sum of money for that purpose,
it was a manifest disappointment to the officers to know,
that in the navy estimates for 1838 the sum voted was less
by £1,500 for the Marines, than in the preceding estimate for
1837.

THE ROYAL MARINES. XXV

" This measure, as has been before observed, being carried into
effect, gave an important benefit to the corps, by an extension
of retirement. Four colonels in addition were placed upon it,
and permission for two more if required ; three lieutenant-colo-
lonels, one major, and twenty-seven captains also obtained re-
tirement on a separate list, and allowed to die off; and there
was likewise an opening made for two colonels second-com-
mandant. The rank of maj or was abolished ; a system which
had been carried into effect in the Royal Artillery, at least
ten years before.

" Although this benefit was considerable, the boon held out to
the officers, by the retirement of many and the promotion of
others, was rendered less valuable by the avowed intention of
the Board to cover the expense incurred by lessening the pay
of the colonels commanding divisions, and by the reduction of
four field-officers, twelve captains, sixty Serjeants, sixty corpo-
rals, and thirty-six drummers : this measure therefore tended to
cripple the establishment.

" The pay and emoluments of a colonel of an infantry regi-
ment, known to be from £1000 to £1200 per annum, and con-
ferred as a reward for good services; are nevertheless a perfect
sinecure; while the pay of a colonel-commandant of marines,
who had most important duties to perform, does not exceed
£700 per annum, after a service probably of fifty or sixty years.

"The officers of marines are naturally led to look at the supe-
rior advancement of other corps in her Majesty's service, but
more especially to the regiment of Royal Artillery, the consti-
tution of which is similar to their own. But there is one pecu-
liar difference : the colonels of Marines arriving at the rank of
major-general, have been compelled to retire upon the unat-
tached pay of that rank, or about £400 per annum, and not to
return to the corps ; but as the colonels of artillery, although
unattached major-generals, succeed to the command of batta-
lions, with an increase of pay and emoluments, it is a hardship
upon the colonels of Marines to be compelled to retire, unless
vol. i. c

XXVI CURSORY RECORD Oi

upon the pay of the rank they then hold, as colonels-com-
mandant.

" When the Committee of the House of Commons in 1833,
upon the navy and army estimates, recommended the aboli-
tion of the sinecures, held by naval officers, of generals and
colonels of marines, they proposed that the amount thus saved
should be distributed as rewards and pensions to officers of
the Royal Navy and Marines, for good and faithful services.
This has been carried into effect in a manner very unsatisfactory
to the Marines ; for notwithstanding that the major-generals of
Marines are upon an equality of rank with rear-admirals, two
major-generals upon the list of pensioners receive the pension
of captains in the Royal Navy, and not those of rear-admirals.
The difference is considerable, one being £300 per annum, and
the other only half that sum ; and these officers were conse-
quently placed a step lower in rank than their commissions
would warrant.

" Again, as field-officers of the army rank with captains of the
navy in sharing prize-money w^hen upon a conjunct expedition,
so field-officers of Marines, until lately, have shared prize-mo-
ney, by royal proclamation, with that class of officers. But,
by a recent order, field-officers of Marines when embarked, are
made to share with the first-lieutenants of ships of war and
captains of their own corps, which may be considered as a de-
gradation of their rank.

" Another cause of discontent is, that the pay of captains of
Marines is less by one shilling per diem than the pay of cap-
tains of the Line ; for by an order of the War-office, the non-
effective allowance to captains of companies was abolished, and
became personal pay. It is admitted that this allowance was
not generally given to captains of Marines ; but as it is changed
into personal pay, and as the officers of that rank are every
where doing the same duties with those of the Line, upon less
pay, it is justly felt as a hardship, more especially as they are
unfortunately so long kept in the rank of captain."

THE ROYAL MARINES. XXVM

Colonels Treraenheere and Owen, lieutenant-colonels Wright
and sir Francis Lee, captains Alfred Burton and J. J. Willes, and
lieutenant J. Buchanan, were then severally examined. Upon
the evidence adduced by these officers, the Commission came to
the following conclusions, which they submitted to the consi-
deration of her Majesty : —

" 1. That it is expedient that officers shall not be continued
in command of divisions, when no longer equal to the active
duties of the service.

" 2. That every officer of Marines removed from the corps on
becoming a general officer, should receive the full pay of his
last regimental commission, or £400 a-year when the pay of
his last regimental commission is not of that amount.

" 3. That upon full consideration whether, in consequence of
the proposed alteration with respect to the pay of officers of
Marines removed from the corps as major-generals, it would be
proper to diminish the number of colonels-commandant al-
lowed to retire upon full pay, — it has appeared to your Ma-
jesty's Commissioners that it would be inexpedient to offer any
such recommendation, because the number of retirements al-
lowed to colonels- commandant, need not be filled up by the
Board of Admiralty, unless it should be thought necessary ;
while it might be inconvenient to diminish the means now af-
forded, by the retirement on full pay of colonels-commandant,
of removing from the corps officers who, from ill health or from
other causes, have become inefficient.

" 4. The Commission deem it right to recommend to your Ma-
jesty, that the present number of lieutenant-colonels of Royal
Marines allowed to retire on full-pay should be increased from
four to six, on the same ground and in the same manner as
has been recommended for the retirement of the colonels-
commandant.

" 5. That the regimental field-officers so retiring, and all those
who may have heretofore retired upon full-pay as such, should
be promoted in succession, by brevet, to the rank of general

c 2

XXV111 CURSORY RECORD OF

officer ; and that the retired full-pay of such of the field-officers
as may attain the rank of general-officer should be made up to
£400 a-year, if the retired pay they received should be below
that amount.

" 6. That the Board of Admiralty should be authorized to
admit of the permanent retirement annually of two lieutenant-
colonels of the Royal Marines to half-pay, at their own request;
but these officers should not be eligible for any further promo-
tion, by brevet or otherwise.

" 7. That it is expedient, that so much of the royal proclama-
tion of the 3rd of February, 1836, as relates to the allowance of
prize-money to the field-officers of Marines, under which they
are classed with sea lieutenants and captains of their own corps,
should be rescinded ; and they should, in respect to prize-money,
be placed on a footing with field-officers of corresponding rank
in the Line.

" 8. That it would be expedient, in regulating such grants of
pensions for good services as may be made to general officers of
Marines, to adhere to the principle of the order in Council of
the 3rd of July, 1837, under which general officers of Marines
were classed with flag-officers of the fleet, with whom they
rank.

" 9. That it is expedient, that the pay of captains of Marines,
when serving a shore, should be fixed at the same rates as that
of captains of infantry of the line."

Before the Commission terminated its labours, the Royal
Marines had to deplore the loss of their best advocate, sir
Richard Williams, (the only officer of that corps who was a
member of this board of inquiry), whose energies and zeal, in
preferring their claims, cannot be too highly appreciated ; and
as the last days of that gallant officer were devoted to the in-
terests of the profession, of which he was so bright an ornament,
we feel that the highest tribute we can offer to his respected
memory is to record the statement he gave in evidence ; which
is not only a testimony of the strenuous endeavours of that up-

THE ROYAL MARINES. XXIX

right man to promote the welfare of the corps in which he had
served with so much distinction and so much honour; but it
affords a faithful and unprejudiced description of the neglect
that had been long exercised towards this branch of the service.
In urging the claims of the captains of Marines, sir Richard
observes : —

" For more than half a century they have served with the
troops of the line very frequently, and usually upon expeditions
of importance, with inferior advantages, but with the like ex-
penses ; that their loyalty and fidelity have been acknowledged
by the Sovereign, and by the votes of their countrymen in Par-
liament assembled ; that as a seniority corps, promotion from
the very nature of such an establishment has been unavoidably
slow: that officers have been known to remain on the list of
second-lieutenants nineteen years in continuous service, and
that numbers of them have remained twenty-eight years as
subalterns.

" It can be proved, too, that they have not had the same ad-
vantages as have been enjoyed by the general service ; that at the
peace in 1814, when a large reduction took place, the existing
vacancies, more than twenty in number — some of which were
from deaths in action in America, were not filled up, with the
exception of six. So that the subalterns at the head of the list,
to that amount in number, had the rank of captain withheld
from them for six years ; not a single move having been made
for that space of time from the 27th of July, 1814. This was
a grievance of so serious a nature, that the senior subalterns
sent a memorial to the Board of Admiralty, praying that the
vacancies might be filled up; but this application was not at-
tended to. They then requested to be put upon the same foot-
ing as the Royal Artillery ; that is to say, when a captain was
brought in from half-pay, the senior first-lieutenant might be
promoted and placed upon half-pay ; but this request was also
denied, although the final reduction to a peace establishment
did not take place until 1816, owing probably to the return of

XXX CURSORY RECORD OF

Buonaparte from Elba, and the continuance of the war with
America until 1815.

" Now as regards the navy, mingled with whom they have
always been proud to fight, and taken as a corps a fourth of its
component part, all vacancies, as far as my information goes,
were scrupulously filled up. There appears to have been 140
commanders made post-captains in 1814 and 1815; 360 lieute-
nants made commanders, and 1000 midshipmen were promoted
in 1815.

" When I make these remarks, they will not be deemed invidi-
ous, I am quite sure : the glorious struggle which had been
maintained, and in which the navy so largely participated,
gave j ust claim at the termination to a liberal reward ; and the
country, at that time grateful to its defenders, gave universal
consent. When I ask for an increase of pay for the captain of
Marines, it may be said, and very correctly too, that his pay is
already superior to that of a lieutenant of the navy, with whom
he ranks. This is not a fair mode of reasoning; because the
pay of the navy and of the army was never made to assimilate
to any two corresponding ranks : if the captain of Marines
has more pay, the sea lieutenant has more authority. In the
event of an action, the latter was morally certain of promotion
upon the death of his captain, while the former could gain no-
thing but the honour and gratification of having done his duty.
The expenses incurred by outfit, and the losses sustained by
disasters, were common to all the officers in the ward-room,
even to the second-lieutenant of marines upon 5s. Sd, per diem.
It appeared to me, therefore, that the claims of the lieutenants
of the navy should stand upon their own merits, a foundation
upon which a superstructure might be raised with every possi-
ble chance of success, and to which my feeble efforts should
not be wanting.

" The rank of captain was also much retarded by the order of
His Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral, dated 17th of Au-
gust, 1827, when the indulgence granted to lieutenants in the

THE ROYAL MARINES. XXXI

line, of retiring upon half-pay with the rank of captain, was re-
stricted to such a number in the marines, as there might be
first-lieutenants upon the half-pay of the corps. There were at
that time more than sixty first-lieutenants of a rank prior to
1812: many of them applied for this indulgence, but it was
refused to all but fifteen, the number of the first-lieutenants
actually upon half-pay.

"We must all have heard with peculiar satisfaction, upon va-
rious occasions, of the estimation in which brevet rank was held
when bestowed for services in the field ; and I will venture to
say, that no men value more highly the distinction of rank for
services performed, than the officers of Marines. It is their pe-
culiar lot to serve in detachments, and seldom or never do they
serve from under the control of a superior officer ; so that few
opportunities occur for distinction. Under these circumstances
it will not be deemed presumptuous in me, I hope, to suggest
that in those general actions, which upon some future day may
be fought, permission may be given to the commander-in-chief
of the fleet to recommend three or four of the senior officers of
marines for brevet rank, according to the strength of the fleet or
squadron. It has hitherto been the custom to recommend the
senior officer only, and this pretension to reward will scarcely put
them on a footing (which is all they ask) with officers of their
own rank in the same fleet ; for the first-lieutenant of every
line-of-battle ship was promoted after all the general victories
during the war.

" With the exception of the attack upon Algiers, when three
officers of Marines obtained brevet rank, but one only had that
distinction in the other naval actions ; and several were fought
without any honour being conferred upon the senior officer of
marines. Not more than ten officers appear to have had brevet
rank given them during the late war.

" Rank by brevet is the only distinction, according to existing
regulations, which can be given with justice to the junior ranks
m a seniority corps; and below the rank of captain, merit, how-

XXX11 CURSORY RECORD OF

ever distinguished, must go unrewarded. It has been deemed in-
jurious to the service generally (although well deserved by the
individual) to bestow the brevet rank of captain upon a lieute-
nant ; but in several instances in the Royal Artillery, as I have
been credibly informed, the subaltern officers so distinguished
had the brevet rank of major given to them three years after
they had arrived at the rank of captain in the regiment. There
have been four instances, I have been told, of this nature : their
services having been noted, they ultimately obtained a recom-
pense. The same measure of justice has not prevailed in the
Marines; for in 1814 there was an instance of a subaltern offi-
cer having been nominated to the brevet rank of captain, by the
recommendation of the Board of Admiralty, for distinguished
conduct in the field, and who was forced to relinquish that
rank ; but he did not get the brevet rank of major, after having
served three years as a captain in the corps.

" Such has been the slowness of promotion in the marines, that
those officers who came into the service as second-lieutenants
in 180fi, are not only still captains without brevet rank, but
they are at least sixty from the head of the list ; whereas all the
subalterns, or nearly so, of that date in the Royal Artillery, are
brevet majors. This is a striking instance of the advantage of
second-captains in a seniority corps, and of the benefits derived
from a brevet rank for distinguished services ; and strange as it
may appear, there are twenty-seven subalterns of marines upon
the list of first-lieutenants, whose first commissions were dated
before the conclusion of the war. It may probably be thought
worthy of consideration, whether length of actual service, reck-
oning from the date of the first commission, may not have a
claim to brevet rank in a general promotion, in preference to the
length of service in the rank of captain. I fear it may be thought
that I have been prolix in my statement with regard to officers of
the rank of captain, but the subject was of so much importance,
that I thought it incumbent upon me to dwell upon the hardships
of the junior ranks of the service ; and I wished to impress upon

THE ROYAL MARINES. XXX111

the members of this Commission that the officers of marines in
command of companies, although they have served with less
pecuniary advantages than those of the same rank in the army,
yet from length of service, and other circumstances which have
been detailed, have some claim to the increase of Is. \d. per
diem to the present day.

" In conclusion, I am decidedly of opinion that the advantages
which flow from a permanent establishment of officers of the
higher grades, are those which will most essentially benefit any
military establishment, however it may be constituted."

Sir Richard, in support of this last observation, submitted a
proposal to form the ninety companies of Marines into nine bat-
talions, making each battalion to consist of 1000 men, including
officers. The senior officer of the corps should not only reside in
London, but sit at the Board of Admiralty whenever discussions
arose respecting the Marines, or when details were to be made
out for the performance of the duties which might be required
of them. Two battalions to be stationed at each of the four di-
visions, and one battalion at Pembroke. They were to be deno-
minated first and second battalions, giving to the commandants
of the first battalions not less than £2. 5s. per diem, and to those
of the second battalions £1. 10.?. per diem.

If each battalion had a colonel-commandant and three field-
officers, there would be twenty-seven field-officers, besides com-
mandants ; nor can this arrangement be deemed an unreasonable
number for 9,000 men, when the Royal Artillery have forty-two
field-officers and thirty colonels to 7,000 men.

The permanent retired establishment of the corps should re-
main as it is, with the exception of the colonels second-com-
mandant, which rank should be abolished ; viz. 8 colonels com-
mandant, 4 lieutenant-colonels, 25 captains, and 10 first-lieute-
nants; and that each officer should retire upon the full-pay of
the rank he then held in the corps, although he should have
arrived at the rank of major-general.

That no vacancy should remain open upon that list, and to

XXXIV CURSORY RECORD OF

this end, the senior officer of the rank below should be promoted
and placed pro tempore in the vacancy ; and whenever an officer
of that rank in the serving corps should retire, the unattached
officer should immediately take his place for duty. In case of
the removal of the senior colonel of a second battalion to the
retired list of colonels-commandant unattached, he would be-
come entitled, of course, to the increase of pay from £1. 10s. to
£2. 5s. per diem ; for although he does not gain a step in rank,
being already a colonel, yet he is duly entitled to the increase of
pay, otherwise his removal would be a pecuniary injury. By
these means, whenever officers are tardy in retiring, they will
not on that account impede the promotion of those below them.
Although it is stated in the report of the Commission, in re-
ference to sir Richard Williams, " We have had the satisfaction
of placing his suggestions upon the records of our proceedings,
and have given full consideration to them in the conclusions at
which we have arrived," it would be difficult to trace the
adoption of that officer's disinterested proposals. There was
an almost unanimous evidence of the benefit that would arise
to the corps from an increase of field-officers, (and subsequent
events have proved the inconvenience and injury to the public
service from the inattention to these recommendations,) but the
Commission, " although prepared to admit the force of colonel
Owen's argument, that the Marines had a title to an additional
number of officers of the higher ranks, to give them a fair pro-
portion of promotion with the other branches of the service,
and as it was shown to us that this additional number was not
needed on the effective list, we are disposed to recommend to
your Majesty an addition of two lieutenant-colonels to the retir-
ed full-pay establishment, making the numbers of that rank to
whom full-pay may be granted six instead of four ;" and " in fur-
therance of the object we have in view, of increasing the number
of promotions to the rank of field-officers, we would suggest
that two lieutenant-colonels of Marines should be allowed an-
nually to retire upon half ! ! pay, as a permanent provision."

THE ROYAL MARINES. XXXV

Now it must be obvious to every one, on a moment's reflec-
tion, that the extent of the boon recommended by the Com-
mission to compensate the claim which is admitted in their re-
port, is limited to the retirement of two lieutenant-colonels on
full-pay, for it would be absurd to suppose that an officer of
that standing would ask for half-pay ; and as a reference to the
retired list will prove that this compensation for long services has
never been sought after, it is evident that this proposed arrange-
ment has been a dead letter. It will be observed, that for the
same object in the regiment of Royal Artillery, there is a recom-
mendation of the Commission for the retirement of four lieute-
nant-colonels annually on FULL-pay.

This recommendation has been faithfully carried out in the
Royal Artillery ever since the Commission made its report ; and
it will be seen, that at the rate of four lieutenant-colonels an-
nually, it has produced a promotion in that corps of at least
thirty captains to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. A correspond-
ing liberal arrangement conferred upon the Marines, during the
same period, would have remedied the grievances so justly
complained of; and while it removed all cause of complaint, the
corps would have been efficient in its upper ranks, and with the
advantage arising from casualties, promotion would have taken
care of itself.

The Commission acknowledged the claim of the captains of
marines to the same personal pay as captains of infantry of the
line: but in recommending its adoption, the advantage is restrict-
ed to those serving ashore ; so that when a captain of Marines is
employed on foreign service, which ought to entitle him to higher
reward, he actually loses thirteen pence per diem, while those of
every other rank have the same pay wherever serving ; and by
this unjust restriction the captain of Marines is the only officer
serving in the fleet subject to this deduction of pay for his pro-
visions. There is another grievance that bears hard upon the
captains of Marines, with reference to the unjust stipulation for
the distribution of prize-money to field-officers, which we have

XXXVI CURSORY RECORD OF

already noticed. Sir Richard Williams remarked, " When I
turn to the Gazettes, and read the testimonies that have been
given of the uniform good conduct and exemplary services of
the Marines, ' per mare, per terram,' and when I read the letter
of the gallant admiral who communicated to the corps in 1802
the pleasure of his Majesty, that for its distinguished services
the corps should be made ' Royal,' I feel quite convinced that
the Board of Admiralty will have great satisfaction in recon-
sidering the subject of the distribution of prize-money." But
notwithstanding the recommendation of the Commission, we
have yet to learn that the proclamation of 1836 has been
rescinded.

1841. On the 8th of May an order in Council fixed the
establishment of Marines at ninety divisional companies, con-
sisting of 107 men each, including officers, and four companies
of artillery of 135 men each ; making a total of 10,500 men.

1844. The Marine Artillery was increased to six companies,
and the corps distributed as follows : —

Ninety-four divisional companies, each consisting of — one
captain, two subalterns, five Serjeants, five corporals, three
drummers, and eighty-seven privates. Total, 103.

And five artillery companies, each consisting of — one cap-
tain, four subalterns, seven Serjeants, seven corporals, three
bombardiers, three drummers, and one hundred and twenty
privates. Total, 145.

Making the whole establishment of Marines, both officers
and men, —

Divisional companies .... 9682
Artillery companies .... 725
Staff 62

Total, . 10,469

The introduction of steam has so materially changed the sys-
tem of warfare, that it is now imperative on the british govern-

THE ROYAL MARINES. XXXV11

ment to adopt the best method for the improvement of our
naval gunnery; and as that never can be effectually maintained
when the men are discharged after so limited a period of ser-
vice as three years, it behoves the executive to consider the
advantage that is likely to arise from an increase of the corps
of Marines of sufficient extent to make an addition to the de-
tachments on board her Majesty's ships, and discontinue that
class which is now termed " Landsmen." This measure would
not only provide an improving body of artillery-men, but at the
same time every squadron would convey battalions of effective
soldiers, ready to take the field on any emergency. In offering
these remarks, we are supported by the opinions of many of our
most distinguished naval officers. The immortal Nelson has
been frequently heard to say, " When I become first lord of
the Admiralty, every fleet shall have perfect battalions of Ma-
rines, with their artillery ; and commanded by experienced field-
officers, they will be prepared to make a serious impression on
the enemy's coast." And we find it stated by Mr. Tucker,
that lord St. Vincent was so persuaded of the importance of
keeping up an extensive establishment of Marines, that his
lordship remarked, "The French from the era of Louis XIV.
have always equipped their fleet sooner than we have, and their
1 bureau de classe' continues in full vigour. Without a large
body of Marines, we shall be long, very long, before an effi-
cient fleet can be sent to sea." This system is persevered in ;
and it will be observed that, in the last vote of the French
Chambers, where the number of seamen amounted to 26,000
men, the marine artillery numbered 19,000.

We are fully aware that this apparent disproportion arises
from the circumstance that their naval ports, and likewise the
colonies, are garrisoned by marines ; and we conceive that great
benefit would arise to the public service of this country, if our
colonial possessions were supplied by the same description of
military force. An extension of the establishment of the Ma-
rines would also enable the Admiralty to equip a squadron in

XXXVlll CURSORY RECORD OF

half the time, and with more efficiency, than under the existing
regulation; and we have recently witnessed the great national
advantage of embarking an additional quota when seamen could
not be procured, for at this moment there are no less than 2,300
Marines distributed on board eight sail of the line ; but with
such an extent of military force, there is not even one field-
officer in the squadron.

We cannot conclude this brief sketch of the progress of the
corps of Royal Marines, without adverting to the unequal dis-
tribution of those honours and distinctions which emanate from
the throne. Although the Marines have taken a prominent
part in the glorious contests with the enemy, never, in any
instance, tarnishing their well-merited reputation; and although
the highest commendation has been conferred upon them by
their Sovereign, yet those proud rewards which have been so
profusely bestowed upon every other branch of the service, are
withheld from the Marines; and it will scarcely be credited,
that in the present corps, amounting to 10,500 men, not one
officer has been honoured with the decoration of a Knight
Commander of the Bath, and only four are Companions of the
order.

This order of merit being restricted to the rank of field-
officer, is a check upon the zeal and emulative spirit in that
class of officers where an impulse is most required ; and it has
been well observed, that " no maxim in politics is more indis-
putable, than that a nation should have many honours in re-
serve for those who do national services. This rouses emulation
cherishes public merit, and inspires every one with ambition,
which promotes the good of his country. The less expensive
those honours are to the public, the more still do they turn to
its advantage."

Casting a retrospective glance at the remarks we have ad-
duced, combined with those impressive testimonies afforded in
the memorials to the Board of Admiralty at various periods,
and considering that even the last respectful remonstrance of

THE ROYAL MARINES. XXXI. V

the corps was alike disregarded, until echoed in the walls of
Parliament, it must be evident that there has been great mis-
rule in the administration of this branch of the service.

With this conviction we may venture to express an opinion,
that those depressing measures have arisen from the absence
of a responsible chief; who feeling himself identified with the
honour and welfare of the corps, would watch over its interests
with jealous attention to its claims.

As the constitution of the regiments of Royal Artillery is
analagous to that of the Marines, the one governed by the
Board of Ordnance, the other by the Board of Admiralty, it
may be reasonable to infer, in contrasting the position of the
two services, that the system of having a "Master-general"
independent, and unfettered by a conjunctive administration, is
productive of the best results ; and as there does not appear to
be any impediment to an assimilation of the governing principle
in the two services, we feel assured, that if the first lord of
the Admiralty was also " Captain-general of Marines," the ap-
pointment would not only prove of the greatest advantage to
the public service, but it would restore confidence to the corps,
and revive that emulative spirit which has so eminently con-
duced to its distinguished reputation.

THE HISTORY

ROYAL MARINE FORCES.

CHAPTER I.

From the earliest Period to 1755.

16P4 r^nE ear^es^ Period any reference can be found to an
establishment of soldiers embarked on board the ships
of the royal navy which can be traced in the records of the
Admiralty, is the following Order in Council of His Majesty
King Charles II., dated 26th October, 1644: — "Upon Report
from the Lords Commissioners for the Affayres of His Majesty e's
Navy Royall and Admiralty of this Kingdom, this day read
at the Board, His Majesty was pleased to order and direct
(amongst other things) that twelve hundred land soldiers be
forthwith raised, to be in readiness to be distributed into His
Majestye's Fleets, prepared for sea; which said twelve hundred
men are to be put into one Regiment, under one Collonell, one
Lieutenant-Collonell, and one Sergeant-Major, and to be di-
vided into six Companies, — each Company to consist of two
hundred souldiers, and to have one Captaine, one Lieutenant,
one Ensign, one Drum, ffoure Serjeants, and fToure -Corporalls,
and all the souldiers aforesaid to be armed with good firelocks ;
all which arms, drums, and colours are forthwith to be pre-
pared and furnished out of His Majestye's Stores : the care of
all which is recommended to the Duke of Albemarle His Grace,
Lord Generall of His Majestye's Forces."

VOL. I. B

Z FIRST MARITIME REGIMENT.

An order in Council, dated Whitehall, 1st April, 1668,
sets forth — "It is this day ordered by His Majestye in
Councill, that his Grace the Duke of Albemarle, Lord Generall
of His Majestye's Forces, bee, and he is hereby authorized and
desired, to draw and furnish such numbers of souldiers out of
His Majestye's Foot Guards for His Majestye's service at sea
this summer as His Royal Highnesse the Duke of York, Lord
High Admirall of England, &c. shall from time to time desire ;
to be delivered at Tower Wharfe on board such vessells as His
Royal Highnesse shall appoynt to receive them, and thereupon
his Grace doo cause the said Guards to be recruited as there
shall be occasion."

Detachments from other regiments were occasionally em-
barked ; and we find, in 1672, a company of the " Holland regi-
ment under Captain Sidney" directed to proceed on board such
ships as the Duke of York shall appoint. But the first regi-
ment especially raised for sea service, was that of the Lord High
Admiral of England, His Royal Highness the Duke of York
and Albany's Maritime Regiment of Foot, raised in 1664; and
it is so described in the return of the general review on Putney
Heath on the 1st of October, 1684, and was thus commissioned :
Colonel. — Sir Charles Littleton.
Lieutenant- Col. — Olrver Nicolas.
Major. — Richard Baggett.

Captains. — George Littleton, Sir Thomas Custer, Edward
Nott, Francis Ezod, Edward Harris, Samuel Scuddamore,
Chichester Wray, Charles Herbert, Edmund Plowden.
Lieutenants. — Robert Crawford, Edmund Yarborough, Thomas
Blechenden, Edmund Wilson, Robert Lloyd, Francis
Hoblen, Francis Butler, John Thorn, George Rooke,
Henry Hewys, Thomas Whaley, William Oglethorpe.
Ensigns. — Philomel Powell, Arthur Townshend, William
Pearson, James Man, John Hill, Alexander Ewin, Thomas
Man, William Somers, George Littleton, Francis Ezod,
Joseph Whaley.

EXCLUSIVE PRIVILEGE OF THE MARINES. 3

Staff- Officers. — Richard Beauvoir, adj utant ; Tobias Legross,
quarter-master ; Samuel Tathan, chirurgeon ; John Tathan,
chirurgeon's mate.

This regiment, which consisted of twelve companies, without
grenadiers, had yellow coats lined with red ; and their colours
bore the Red Cross of St. George, with the rays of the sun
issuing from each of its angles.

About this time, titles of distinction were given to several
regiments : Dumbarton's (the 1st Foot) was styled the Royal
Regiment; the 1st Tangier (now 2nd Foot) the Queen's Re-
giment; and the 2nd Tangier (now 4th Foot) the Duchess of
York's. The 3rd was the Admiral's, or Duke of York's Ma-
ritime Regiment, which was sent to Holland in 1689, and in-
corporated with the 2nd Foot Guards. The Holland regiment,
then designated " the Prince George of Denmark's," and the
4th in the British line, gained a step by the reduction of the
3rd, or Maritime regiment; and in 1708, on the death of His
Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark, it took the name
of the 3rd, or u Old Buffs," whilst the 31st regiment, raised in
1702, clothed in scarlet, with buff waistcoats, breeches, and
stockings, was styled the " Young Buffs ;" but the latter title
has been long since laid aside. There is an exclusive privilege
conferred, on the " Old Buffs " by the city of London, which
was acknowledged so recently as 1840, when the minister inti-
mated his intention of passing troops through the, city, and
which is still retained by its descendants the Royal Marines,
and the 3rd regiment of Foot. It would be difficult, if not
impossible, to trace the origin of this honour, as most of the
archives of the city were destroyed in the great fire in 1 666 ;
but it is very evident that the privilege was granted to the
" Old Buffs," (who, we may presume, were so designated from
their being clothed in yellow) ; and probably from their being-
raised from the train-bands of the city. Moreover, the 4th re-
giment is described as having jlesh-colour facings in the army
list of Nathan Brooks in 1684 ; and in the Antiquarian Repertory

** THE PRIVILEGE ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE CITY.

of 1686, "red, lined with ash-colour." Now neither of these
descriptions give the Holland, or Ath regiment, a claim to the
appellation of " Buffs," nor do we find it so styled until 1708,
when it assumed that distinction, and discontinued the title of
" Prince of Denmark's." Another circumstance confirms the
claim of the Royal Marines to the precedence of the present 3rd
regiment in the British line, which is here transcribed from the
military memoirs of Major Donkin, published 1777. "The 3rd
regiment of Foot, raised in 1663, known by the ancient title of
the ' Old Buffs,' have the privilege of marching through London
with drums beating, and colours flying, which the city disputes —
not only with all other corps, but even with the king's Guards
going on duty to the Tower. It happened in the year 1746, that
a detachment of Marines beating along Cheapside, one of the
magistrates came up to the officer, requiring him to cease the
drum, as no soldiers were allowed to interrupt the civil repose.
The captain commanding, (an intimate friend of mine) imme-
diately said, ' We are Marines.' ' Oh, sir,' replied the alderman,
' I beg pardon ; I did not know it. Pray continue your route
as you please.' ': Here it is clearly defined to be the 3rd regi-
ment of Foot raised in 1665, and not the Holland regiment,
which became its successor in 1689, and which did not assume
the designation of " Old Buffs" until 1708; nevertheless, as
the Holland regiment was also raised by the city of London,
the present 3rd regiment claims a similar privilege. The sys-
tem of having soldiers exclusively for sea service, does not
appear to have prevailed until 1693, when a draft for raising
two marine regiments was presented to King William III. :
who, by his order in Council of 22nd February, 1694, autho-
rized their formation, subject to the following regulations : —

The number of officers, as well as their pay and that of the
men, (with some trifling exceptions,) to be the same as those
for the land forces.

The two regiments to be under the direction of the Lord
High Admiral, or the Commissioners for executing that office.

FORMATION OF TWO MARITIME REGIMENTS. 5

None of the officers to be sea commanders, except the two
colonels. When serving afloat, to be wholly under the com-
mand of the naval officers of the ships. Their cost and main-
tenance, &c. to be borne on the ordinary estimates of the navy.

Both regiments not to be on shore together : the regiment on
shore to be quartered at or in the neighbourhood of the naval
yards, in the following proportions : — four companies at Ports-
mouth, one at Sheerness, five at Chatham, two at Woolwich,
two at Deptford, and one at Plymouth.

The men to be employed at the call of the commissioners of
Chatham, Portsmouth, and Plymouth, and at the desire of
the master attendant, or master-shipwright of the other yards
where no commissioner resides ; in heaving in or out of bal-
last, manning the cranes, removing goods and stores, laying
cables and various other dock-yard duties,: for which they
were to receive sixpence a-day in addition to their pay. The
captain of the ship in which they served was required to send
yearly to the Admiralty a list of the " names of such soldiers
as shall in any measure be made seamen, and how far each of
them is qualified towards being an able seaman."

Whilst serving on board, the men were to be borne on the
books in a distinct list, and to be paid, as likewise on shore,
by the captains of their respective companies, who were to
receive the pay from their colonels.

There were several maritime regiments embodied between
the years 1687 and 1698 subject to these regulations, but they
were disbanded during the currency of 1697 and 1698. The
expenses incurred by the maintenance of the maritime troops
were classed with the estimates of the navy, and money was
issued, from time to time, by warrant from the Lord High
Treasurer to the Treasurer of the Navy, who placed it in the
hands of a person especially appointed to receive it.

On the 18th of January, 1697, an order in Council granted
half-pay to the officers of Marines ; but it was not defined if in-
tended as a retaining fee, or as a reward for past services, nor
has it been clearly ascertained up to the present day.

6' LEVY OF SIX MARINE REGIMENTS,

On the 4th of May, 1702, war was proclaimed against France
and Spain ; and the French king having advanced his grandson
the Duke of Anjou to the vacant Spanish monarchy, Queen
Anne, who had ascended the British throne, espoused the claims
of the Archduke of Austria upon the Spanish sovereignty, and
resolved upon sending a powerful fleet into the Mediterranean.

One of the first acts of her reign was a revival of the corps of
Marines. Her Majesty's order for levying this body was issued
on the 1st of June, 1 702, and was to this effect : — " Our pleasure
is, that six regiments of Marines, and six other regiments for
sea service, do commence and take place from the respective
times of raising. And our further pleasure is, that the order
given by our dearest brother, the late King, deceased, and such
orders as are or shall be given by us, touching the pay or
entertainment of our said forces, or any of them, or any charges
thereunto belonging, shall be duly complied with ; and that no
new charge be added to this establishment without being com-
municated to our High Treasurer, or Commissioners of our
treasury for the time being."

In 1702, Her Majesty was pleased to establish six marine
regiments ; they were put upon a different footing from those
which were thought necessary at the beginning, but discon-
tinued before the close, of the last war ; for as the soldiers were
formerly discharged from the regiments and entered on the
ships' books as foremast men, when they had qualified them-
selves to serve as such, and money allowed to the officers to
procure others in their room, so now, when any of the marine
soldiers died, or were otherwise missing, the companies were
only made full by levy-money to the officers, without any regard
to their being a nursery for seamen, which was one of the prin-
cipal motives for the first raising of such a body of men. The
charge of these regiments was defrayed by the navy, (as being
part of the men voted by Parliament for sea service,) and
money was issued out from time to time by the treasurer, by
warrants from the Lord High Treasurer, to a person particularly
appointed to receive and pay the same. The following articles

REGULATIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. 7

for the government and conduct of these regiments were
framed and adopted by Her Majesty in Council on the 12th of
July, 1702.

They were to be employed on board Her Majesty's ships as
there should be occasion, and quartered at, or as near as might
be, to the dock-yards when on shore, to guard them from em-
bezzlements, or any attempts of an enemy. In all matters re-
lating to their subsistence and clearings, when on board and on
shore, they were to be paid in like manner as the land forces,
and the same deductions to be made from them for clothing, and
one day's pay, once a-year, from each officer and soldier for the
hospital. They were to be allowed an equal proportion of pro-
visions with the seamen, without any deductions from their pay
for the same ; and to have the same allowance for short provi-
sions as the seamen, to be paid to themselves or their assigns.

Such regiments, or parts of them, as should be on shore, were
to be mustered by a commissary or commissaries in the same
manner as the land forces ; excepting in this case, that they the
said commissaries were obliged to allow at each muster on his
or their rolls all such officers and soldiers as should appear to
him or them, by authentic vouchers or certificates, to be put on
board any of Her Majesty's ships or vessels ; and that such
part of the aforesaid regiments as should be at sea, might be
paid while they were so. It was directed, that the command-
ing marine officer with them should, every two months, return
to the commissary-general of the musters a perfect list of all
the officers and soldiers on board each ship, signed by himself,
and all the marine officers, expressing the times of entry, death,
and discharge of each man; that so the commissary might com-
pare the said lists with the monthly books sent to the Navy-
office, and allow such of the officers and soldiers as should
appear to him fit to be so allowed.

To prevent confusion, not less than fifteen marine soldiers, and
with them an officer, were to be put on board of a ship at any
one time, unless in cases of necessity. A particular paymaster

8 INDEPENDENT COMPANIES ttAlSED.

was appointed, with power to solicit the arrears of the regiments,
and to receive all sums of money from the Treasurer of the Navy;
and immediately upon the receipt thereof, to issue the same to
the respective colonels or their agents. He was also required dili-
gently and carefully to adjust all accounts relating to the regi-
ments, according to such muster-rolls as should be delivered to
him by the commissary or commissaries ; and those muster-rolls
were to be allowed of, as sufficient vouchers for the charges in
the accounts, and for making out debentures and warrants.

To enable the aforesaid paymaster to keep an office, and to
defray the charge thereof, and of clerks and other contingencies,
he was allowed sixpence in the pound, pursuant to the subscrip-
tion of the respective colonels, which he had power to deduct out
of all moneys issued to him, in the same manner as the pound-
age was deducted from the land forces. For rendering such
parts of the regiments as should be on shore the more useful,
Her Majesty declared it should be left to herself, or the High
Admiral, to dispose of them at such places nearest to the several
dock-yards as might be judged most convenient. And since
there might be occasion for labourers to despatch necessary
works, Her Majesty empowered her High Admiral, or the commis-
sioners for executing the office, to cause to be employed in the
aforesaid dock-yards so many of the marine soldiers as might be
judged fitting, and to make them such daily allowance for the
same, besides their ordinary pay, as should seem reasonable.

Brigadier-general Seymour was appointed by the Lord High
Admiral to superintend the establishment. His particular duties
were, to observe that the men were comfortably quartered ; that
the officers were attentive in their respective departments ; and
that the marine soldiers, when embarked on board of ship, were
supplied with proper sea-clothes, and other suitable necessaries.
A number of independent companies of Marines were also raised
for the express purpose of defending our West India posses-
sions ; to which quarter they were sent, and embodied into three
regiments,

ATTACK UPON GIBRALTAR.

1704 Charles, Archduke of Austria, being declared king of
Spain, and acknowledged as such by England and her
allies, Sir George Rooke was sent with a strong squadron of
English and Dutch men-of-war to convoy His Majesty to
Portugal. On his arrival at Lisbon on the 25th of February,
after two days spent in adjusting the ceremonial, His Catholic
Majesty was conducted on shore by the King of Portugal, and
most of the royal family.

In compliance with the entreaties of King Charles III., the
squadron embarked a division of troops under the command of
the Prince of Hesse d'Armstadt, and sailed with a fleet of trans-
ports, under convoy, for the reduction of Barcelona, where they
arrived on the 18th of May ; and on the day following twelve
hundred Marines, four hundred Dutch foot, a company of Cata-
lans, and as many volunteers as made up a total force of two
thousand men, were landed under the Prince of Hesse. After
remaining on shore the whole night, during which the Dutch
had bombarded the place with some effect, his Highness, under
the apprehension of being attacked by a superior force, caused
the force to be re-embarked.

On the 21st of May the fleet sailed; and having passed the
Straits on the 14th of June, was joined by the squadron under
Sir Cloudesley Shovel in Lagos Bay on the 16th ; when a coun-
cil of war assembled to consider what service should be pro-
ceeded on ; nothing decisive, however, was arranged, and Sir
George again sailed for the Mediterranean. On the 17th of
July, when in the road of Tetuan, it was determined to make a
sudden and resolute attempt upon Gibraltar.

On the 21st of July the fleet arrived in Gibraltar Bay, and
the Marines, English, and Dutch, to the number of eighteen
hundred, were landed under the command of the Prince of
Hesse on the isthmus, to cut off all communication between the
garrison and the continent. His Highness having taken post
there, summoned the governor ; who replied that he would de-
fend the place to the last extremity. On the 22nd the admiral,

GIBRALTAR.

at break of day, commenced a vigorous attack, and cannonaded
the town with so much spirit, that fifteen thousand shot were
expended in the course of five hours. This produced a corres-
pondent effect, and Sir George Rooke, perceiving that the enemy
were driven from the works at the mole head, ordered Captain
Whitaker to arm all the boats, and attempt to make himself
master of the enemy's fortifications ; justly concluding, that if
these were once occupied, the town must immediately sur-
render. This order was no sooner issued, than Captains Hicks
and Jumper, who were nearest to the mole, pushed ashore with
their pinnaces ; and having scrambled up into the fortifications,
were actually in possession of them before the rest of the attack-
ing party could arrive. The Spaniards, finding the works un-
tenable, sprang a mine, by which explosion two lieutenants and
forty men were killed, and sixty wounded. Notwithstanding
this misfortune, the two captains maintained possession of the
great platform until they were sustained by Captain Whitaker
and the seamen under his command, who soon made themselves
masters of a redoubt between the mole and the town. On this,
the admiral sent in a letter to the governor ; and on the 24th of
July, 1704, that officer having signed a capitulation, the Prince
of Hesse with the Marines immediately possessed themselves
of this important fortress.

This attack having been made on a Sunday, almost all the
women belonging to the garrison were performing their devotions
in a chapel about four miles distant from the rock, so that the
besieging forces were between them and their families ; and this
circumstance hastened the fall of the place, for the citizens within
strongly urged the governor to capitulate. The garrison was
composed of two skeleton regiments only, but the strength of
the fortifications, (the number of cannon mounted being upwards
of one hundred pieces towards the sea,) and the two narrow
passes of approach from the land, would have rendered it for-
midable to a less enterprising enemy. Our total loss was 61
killed, 3nd 206 wounded.

GIBRALTAR. 11

The King of Spain being conscious of the importance of Gib-
raltar, obtained the assistance of a French fleet under M. de
Pointis, to assist the Spaniards in carrying on the siege. The
Prince of Hesse sent early advice of this circumstance to Lis-
bon; and consequently Sir John Leake with his squadron imme-
diately proceeded to the relief of the place, and landed several
engineers and gunners, with a body of 400 Marines; but finding
that the French were approaching with a superior force, the ad-
miral considered it expedient to return to Lisbon. Having refitted
his squadron, he arrived at Gibraltar on the 25th of October, at
a very critical j uncture ; for on that very night the enemy intended
to storm the town on all sides, and had procured 200 boats from
Cadiz, in order to have landed 3000 men near the new mole.

The Prince of Hesse persevered in defending the place against
the combined efforts of the French and Spanish forces, until the
9th of March, 1705, when Admiral Sir John Leake, with a body
of troops on board his squadron from Lisbon, again entered the
Straits. The arrival of this succour determined the Spaniards to
raise the siege, during which they had thrown more than 8,000
bombs, and upwards of 70,000 cannon shot, though to very little
purpose. In a curious work published in 1707, entitled The
Triumphs of Her Majesty's Arms, particular mention is thus
made of the gallantry of the Marines in the defence of Gibraltar :
" Encouraged by the example of the Prince of Hesse, the gar-
rison did more than could humanly be expected, and the Eng-
lish Marines gained an immortal glory." Captain Fisher of that
corps, with 17 men, attempted to check the advance of 500
grenadiers of the enemy, after the round tower had fallen into
their hands. This gallant officer was taken prisoner, rescued,
and again taken by the enemy, who, though ultimately repulsed,
carried their prisoner into the Spanish lines.

Sir Cloudesley Shovel and the celebrated Earl of Peterbo-
rough, having formed a juncture with their respective fleets,
which had embarked 5000 troops, proceeded from Lisbon on
the 22nd of June for Al tea Bay, where they took on board King

12 BARCELONA AND TARRAGONA.

Charles of Spain, who pressed the earl to make an attack on
the city of Barcelona and the province of Catalonia. Touching
at Gibraltar, the newly raised regiments were exchanged for the
veteran troops and Marines ; and the fleet arrived off Barcelona
on the 12th of August, when 2500 men, exclusive of the Marines,
were landed, and the siege was undertaken.

On the 3rd of September, the Prince of Hesse proposed an
attack on Fort Monjouic, situate on a hill that commands the
city : it was accordingly assaulted and taken, but with the loss
of the gallant projector of the enterprise.

After this success, the siege was pushed with vigour ; the
trenches were opened on the 9th, and batteries raised for fifty
guns and twenty mortars. The bomb-vessels and eight ships,
under Sir Stafford Fairbone, cannonaded the town, while the
batteries and forts continued their fire on shore. On the 28th
the garrison capitulated; and the surrender of this city so
strengthened King Charles's party, that the whole principality,
Rosas only excepted, speedily submitted. King Charles re-
mained shut up in Barcelona, which was invested by the army
under Marshal Thesse, until the 6th of May, 1706, when Sir John
Leake, who had been joined by the Earl of Peterborough from
Tarragona, arrived before the harbour. The king had been
closely pressed, and Fort Monjouic retaken by the enemy ; but
this timely relief changed the position of affairs, and the siege
was raised two days after their arrival. The next object of
attack was Carthagena, which immediately submitted ; and a
garrison of Marines, under Major Hedges, was established for
its defence. An attempt upon Alicant was then resolved upon,
and the Marines ordered to be withdrawn from Carthagena.
On the 21st of July, all the Marines of the fleet, with eight
hundred seamen, were landed, and the bombardment com-
menced on the evening of the 22nd. A detachment of the sea-
men under Sir George Byng rendered very essential service, by
destroying the enemy's batteries opposed to the sea, mounting
160 guns. On the 24th of July the Marines arrived from

MAJORCA. 13

Carthagena, and were immediately landed. The ships having
made a practicable breach in the round tower, situated at the
west end of the place, and another at the middle of the curtain,
between the mole and the easternmost bastion, the troops
advanced to the assault on the 29th, when an officer, with
fifteen grenadiers, who had rashly pushed on against the breach
in the town, were repulsed before they could be supported.
Captain Evans of the Royal Oak, at the head of some boats'
crews, was the first to mount in the breach ; and these gallant
fellows were rapidly followed by the whole of the forces, who
were soon in possession of every post of importance. Not-
withstanding the preparations made for resistance, and the
sharp fire kept up by the Spaniards from the houses, which
had been loop-holed for their defence, our loss was inconsider-
able, having only thirty killed and eighty wounded. General
Mahoni, who had retired into the citadel with a garrison
composed chiefly of Neapolitans, refused to capitulate until
his defences had suffered considerably from the British squad-
ron and bomb- vessels ; but having sustained a heavy loss, he
surrendered on the 25th of August.

On the 6th of September, the fleet under Sir John Leake
sailed from Altea Bay, and on the 9th anchored before Ivica,
which immediately tendered its submission to King Charles III.
The expedition then proceeded to Majorca ; and after throwing
a few shells into Palma, the inhabitants compelled the Viceroy
to surrender. A captain and a lieutenant, with 100 marines,
were placed in the garrison of Porto-Pin.

, - On the 5th of June, Sir Cloudesley Shovel, having;

1707. . . i"

joined Sir George Byng, anchored on the 28th between

Nice and Antibes, about a league from the Var, with a fleet of

forty-three men-of-war and fifty-seven transports. On the 29th

an attack was made on the enemy's army, then entrenched upon

that river, by 600 seamen and Marines, who drove them from

their position so suddenly, that the enemy laid down their

arms and fled with the utmost precipitation. The Duke of

14 PORT MAHOK.

Savoy with the allied army, consisting of 35,000 men, pro-
ceeded to Toulon, while the fleet under Sir Cloudesley sailed
for Hieres.

It was not until the 15th that siege was laid to Toulon, and
100 pieces of cannon landed from the fleet. On the 4th of
August the enemy made a vigorous sally, driving all the con-
federate troops from their works. On the 6th, the siege was
raised and the army withdrawn, having sustained a loss of
upwards of 1000 men in killed and wounded.

.««,, Sardinia was attacked on the 12th of August, and hav-
1 70S

ing been bombarded during the night, 1800 men includ-
ing the whole of the Marines, under Major-general Wills, were
landed to attack the city ; but the Spanish governor rendered
any further measures unnecessary, by coming to a speedy capi-
tulation. The whole were re-embarked and proceeded to the
attack of Mahon, where they arrived on the 25th of August.

At this period two of the marine regiments were drafted, and
both officers and men incorporated with the other four, now
engaged upon this service. All the Marines capable of duty
were discharged from the ships about to return home, and em-
ployed in the reduction of this island. Fort Fornelli, mounting
twelve guns, surrendered after a few hours' cannonade by two
of our ships; and Ciudadello, the capital, submitted without
resistance, The batteries were opened on the works defending
the town of Port Mahon on the 17th of September, and a lodg-
ment having been effected under the walls of fort St. Philippe,
the enemy capitulated on the following day.

Thus was this strong fortress and important island gained
by a force not exceeding 2400 men ; while the garrison con-
sisted of more than 1000 soldiers, with upwards of 100 pieces of
cannon mounted, and having every requisite for a long siege.

The city and castle of Alicant, which had been taken by the
remarkable valour of British seamen and Marines, was at this
time besieged by an army of 12,000 men.

The city is commanded by a strong castle, standing on a

FORT ROYAL, NOVA SCOTIA. 15

rock at a small distance from the sea. It now contained a
formidable garrison under the command of Major-general Rich-
ards, who, after contending against the powerful army opposed
to it, retired into the castle, which had hitherto been deemed
impregnable. They sank three cisterns in the. solid rock, and
then, with incredible labour, filled them with water. The troops
forming the garrison, which consisted of Sir Charles Hotham's
regiment, with that of Colonel Sibourg, composed principally of
refugees, and according to Gillespie a great proportion of the
force being Marines, exhibited the most heroic perseverance in
maintaining the place. The besiegers attempted to undermine
the rock upon which the castle stood ; but this did not shake
their resolution. A partial explosion, which destroyed about
thirty persons, did not intimidate them, and they bravely con-
tinued to defend themselves until the arrival of the fleet under
Sir George Byng on the 4th of April. General Stanhope with
the troops on board then promptly attempted its relief; but a
heavy gale coming on, and being unable to gain any intelligence
as to the state of the garrison, the commander-in-chief by a flag
of truce proposed terms of surrender, which being acceded to,
the brave remnants were re-embarked on board the fleet, which
proceeded to Mahon, and afterwards to Barcelona.

A small squadron under Captain Martin arrived before the
harbour of Port Royal, Nova Scotia, on the 24th of September ;
and on the 25th, Colonel Nicholson with a force of 2000 men,
including 400 Marines, proceeded to the attack of the place,
opposed by a heavy fire from the batteries. Colonel Vetch,
with 500 men, so lined the shore on the north side, that he pro-
tected the landing of the cannon and ammunition. The bomb-
vessel drifting up with the tide, rendered important service dur-
ing the first two days, and was so spiritedly supported by the
military exertions on shore, that the governor capitulated on the
1st of September, and a garrison of Marines was left in posses-
sion of the place, which was now named Annapolis Royal, in ho-
nour of her Majesty, under whose auspices it had been subdued.

16 ATTEMPT UPON QUEBEC.

, On the 13th of March Sir John Norris arrived at Port

Mahon as commander-in-chief of the naval force ; and
after some arrangements for transporting troops to attack the
enemy in various quarters, he reached Barcelona on the 18th of
June. An expedition was then directed against Cette, in the
province of Languedoc, where the troops and Marines were
landed on the 13th of July. After a feeble resistance the place,
with a fort mounting eighteen pieces of cannon, surrendered on
the same day. Major-general Seissau, with the regiment of
Stanhope, advanced towards Adge, which town was delivered
up without resistance. The island of Cette was shortly after-
wards recovered by the French army, but our troops had pre-
viously been withdrawn.

I In the early part of this year it was resolved to make

an attempt on the town of Quebec, the French capital of
Canada; for which service Sir Hovenden Walker and General
Hill were appointed commanders-in-chief of their respective
forces. The fleet reached Nantasket, near Boston, on the
24th of June ; and having prepared the provincial corps, and
withdrawn the Marines who garrisoned Annapolis Royal since
its surrender, they sailed for the object of their destination
on the 30th of July, and reached the Bird Islands on the
14th of August. After many fruitless attempts to ascend the
river, with the loss of eight transports, in which 900 seamen
and soldiers perished, and the fleet having been in imminent
danger, a council of war determined "that by reason of the
ignorance of the pilots, and also the uncertainty and rapidity
of the currents, it was wholly impracticable to go up the river
St. Lawrence with the men-of-war and transports as far as
Quebec." It was therefore determined to abandon all further
proceedings, and after leaving' the provincial auxiliaries on their
own coast, the expedition returned to England on the 9th of
October.

Sir John Jennings assumed the command of the British fleet
at Barcelona on the 20th of March. About this period, Joseph,

SIX MARINE REGIMENTS. 17

Emperor of Germany died, and Charles III. of Spain, on suc-
ceeding to the imperial dignity, embarked on board the British
fleet, which forthwith proceeded to Italy.

Peace was restored by the treaty of Utrecht on the 31st 01
March, 1713, allowing England to retain possession of Gibral-
tar, Minorca, and Nova Scotia, which were the fruits of our
conquests during the war ; and in effecting which, the Marine
regiments established during the reign of Queen Anne essen-
tially contributed.
71 . A great reduction of the forces took place during 1714,
and the half-pay list for that year exhibits upon it the fol-
lowing regiments of Marines : Lieutenant-general Holl's, Major-
general Wills's, Brigadier Barr's, and Lord Viscount Shannon's.
In the first year of the government of George I., it
was judged proper to grant a signal mark of royal favour,
in consideration of the extensive and gallant services of the
Marine regiments. Accordingly, all the officers attached to
the corps of Lieutenant-general Holl, Major-general Wills, and
Brigadier Barr, were restored to their rank and full pay, and
were generally incorporated with the different corps of the line.
Four invalid companies were also granted ; but these regiments
were again reduced, and it was not until 1739, when war was
declared with Spain, that an order in Council of 12th December
directed the immediate levy of six marine regiments, and the
following colonels appointed to command them :

1st. Edward Wolfe, Esq. from 3rd Foot Guards; 2d. Wm.
Robinson, Esq., Lieutenant-colonel from Handyside's regiment
of Foot ; 3rd. Anthony Lowther, Esq. from 2d Foot Guards ;
4th. John Wynyard, Esq. from Colonel Tyrrell's regiment of
Foot ; 5th. Charles Douglas, Esq. from Colonel Howard's regi-
ment of Foot; 6th. Lewis Ducie Morton, Esq. from 3rd Foot
Guards. To render them immediately effective, and with a
view to their perfect discipline, five men from each company of
the regiments of Foot Guards were appointed as Serjeants and
corporals ; and to hasten their completion, a bounty of one
vol. i. c

VALUE OF MARINE SOLDIERS.

pound ten shillings was tendered to the first 1800 men of our
regular army who should volunteer for this service. Early in
1740 three additional regiments were raised in America, when
the royal standard was displayed at New York, as the port to
which every volunteer Marine was to repair.

It was supposed that the natives of that continent were better
calculated for the service in that climate than the Europeans,
and they were clothed in a manner well adapted for their duties.
The colonels, lieutenant-colonels, and other commissioned offi-
cers were appointed by the Crown, except the captains of com-
panies, who were nominated by the American provinces. Their
uniform was camlet coats, brown linen waistcoats, and canvas
trovvsers. Colonel Spotiswood of Virginia, was colonel-com-
mandant of the whole.

In January 1740, the six marine regiments received an aug-
mentation of 2040 men, with one lieutenant to each company ;
twenty men were also added to each of the four companies of in-
valids, and another allowed to the retired Marine establishment.

When Admiral Vernon was about sailing for the West Indies,
his honest zeal for the public service induced him to offer the
following observations, in an address to the Duke of Newcastle,
on the value of marine soldiers. " I could wish, indeed, we had
each of us a company of regular troops sent on board of us,
which would have strengthened us in numbers, as well as had
their expertness in handling their arms, to have incited our sea-
men to the imitation of them. If we should come to a general
war with France as well as Spain, I believe your Grace will
have already perceived, from the difficulty of manning these
ships as they are, the necessity there may be of converting
most of our marching regiments into Marines; and if, as they
become seamen, they were admitted to be discharged as such,
that would make a good nursery for breeding them at a time
we might probably find such a necessity for them."

These ideas appear to have been drawn from the system
which prevailed in the sea service, prior to the formation of

PORTO BELLO. 19

marine regiments, in the reign of Queen Anne, when they were
entirely devoted to naval purposes; and as each individual be-
came qualified to act as a foremast man, which was universally
encouraged, he was discharged from his regiment, and entered
upon the books as a seaman. Even under the present regula-
tion of the service, great advantages would result from an in-
crease of Marines to the complement of each ship, instead of
what is termed " landsmen and waisters." In case of emergency,
a strong reinforcement might be embarked ; and by the imme-
diate equipment of ships, a powerful squadron could be sent to
sea in perfect readiness to meet the enemy, with the advantage
of having battalions well trained for both naval and military
warfare, and capable of making a serious impression wherever
their services might be required.

Vice-admiral Vernon, with a squadron of five ships of the
line, and one of fifty guns, sailed from Portsmouth on the 20th
of July, and arrived at Jamaica on the 23rd of October, 1793,
the day on which war was proclaimed in England ; and em-
barking two hundred soldiers to serve as Marines, he proceeded
to Porto Bello, which was the destined object of his attack.
At the entrance of the north side of the bay, close by a steep
rock, was a strong fort called the Castillo de Ferro, mounting
seventy-eight guns, with a battery beneath of twenty-two. On
the opposite side of the bay, and about a mile further up, on
an eminence, stood Gloria Castle, consisting of two regular bas-
tions towards the sea, mounting ninety guns, with a curtain
between of twenty-two more, besides eight guns pointing to-
wards the harbour. A little above this castle, near the other
end of the town, lay Fort St. Jeronimo, a strong quadran-
gular redoubt; under the guns of which, and of Gloria Castle,
all the ships of the fleet rode at anchor; and at the bottom
of the harbour stands the town of Porto Bello, situated on the
north coast of the Isthmus of Darien. On the 20th of No-
vember the fleet arrived at the place of its destination. The
Hampton-Court took up her position near Castillo de Ferro,

c 2

CARTHAGENA.

and was soon followed by the Norwich and Worcester. After
firing several broadsides, on perceiving that the Spaniards
abandoned their guns, the signal was made for landing; and
the seamen and marines on reaching the shore, successfully
scaled the walls, and immediately placed the English colours
on the lower battery. This was no sooner perceived by the
garrison in the upper fort, than they hoisted a white flag, and
surrendered at discretion. The Burford was engaged with the
Gloria Castle until night; and on the morning of the 22nd it
capitulated, when the British troops took possession of that for-
tress, and of the fort of St. Jeronimo. After destroying the
fortifications, the squadron sailed for Jamaica on the 13th of
December. Soon after this, Admiral Vernon bombarded Car-
thagena ; and having entered the river Chagre, reduced St.
Lorenzo, after destroying the castle and custom-house. He
then returned to Porto Bello, and thence back to Jamaica. The
intelligence of these successes diffused joy throughout the king-
dom; and the Commons, in 1740, cheerfully enabled his Majesty
to equip a very powerful fleet for the ensuing naval campaign.
A camp was ordered to be formed on Hounslow Heath; while
another was marked out in the Isle of Wight for 6000 Marines,
destined to be employed in the West Indies. In 1741 the
House of Commons voted 40,000 seamen for the service of
the year, together with ten new regiments of Marines.

The fleet, which had assembled at Spithead under Sir John
Norris, consisting of twenty-one sail of the line, proceeded no
further than Torbay, and then returned to its former anchorage.
On receiving intelligence that the Ferrol squadron had gone
to the West Indies, and that the Brest and Toulon fleets were
at sea, Lord Cathcart embarked with a large body of troops ;
and this formidable armament, amounting to one hundred and
seventy sail, under Sir Chaloner Ogle, proceeded to the West
Indies on the 26th of October. It had scarcely cleared the
Channel before it was scattered by a violent tempest ; never-
theless, the admiral pursued his voyage, and reached Jamaica

on the 9th of January, 1741, where he found Admiral Vernon,
who now commanded a fleet of thirty ships of the line, with a
considerable proportion of frigates, &c, having about 15,000
seamen, with 12,000 troops, including six regiments of English
Marines, and four battalions raised in America. Touching at
Dominica, to take in wood and water, on their passage to Ja-
maica, the expedition sustained an irreparable loss in the death
of Lord Cathcart, a talented and experienced officer, who died
of dysentery. The command then devolved on Lieut. -general
Went worth, a man of very moderate abilities, and of no expe-
rience. The fleet, now numbering one hundred and twenty-
four sail, quitted (rish Bay, in Hispaniola, on the 25th of
February, and anchored in Plaza Granda, which is to windward
of Carthagena, on the 4th of March ; but the commanders of
the respective forces, as if determined to give the enemy time to
recover from their surprise, remained inactive in the bay until
the 9th, when the first division of the fleet under Sir Chaloner
Ogle, followed by Admiral Vernon with all the transports,
moved forward towards the entrance of the harbour, called
Boca Chica, which was defended by several formidable bat-
teries; while the third division, under Commodore Lestock, re-
mained at their anchorage. The Norfolk, Russell, and Shrews-
bury, anchored close to the forts of St. Jago and St. Philip,
which, being silenced in less than an hour, were taken posses-
sion of by a detachment of British grenadiers. On the 10th,
the regiments of Harrison and Wentworth, with six regiments
of Marines landed on the island of Tierra Bomba, and having
pitched their tents, they commenced erecting a battery against
the castle of Boca Chica; but they soon found themselves
exposed to the fire of a fascine battery on the opposite side of
the harbour, on the island of Varu. The admiral immediately
directed Captain Boscawen, with a party of seamen, to land a
mile to leeward of this battery, which mounted fifteen twenty-
four pounders, and was situated under a raised battery of
five guns. Those gallant fellows soon gained possession of

BOCA CHICA,

both batteries, and having spiked the guns, returned to their
ships.

On the 22nd, General Wentworth opened a battery of twenty-
four pounders on the castle; and on the following day Com-
modore Lestock, with five ships, attacked it by sea ; and the
Spaniards having remounted the guns in the fascine battery, it
was a second time destroyed by the seamen. A breach being
practicable in the castle of Boca Chica, it was entered by a
detachment of grenadiers, without opposition ; and the garrison
of Fort St. Joseph also capitulated. Emboldened by this suc-
cess, and perceiving that the enemy were preparing to sink their
ships, the British boarded the Spanish admiral's ship, the Gal-
licia, and having destroyed the boom and opened a free passage,
the fleet entered the harbour without molestation : the for-
tress of Castillo Grande, mounting fifty-nine guns, which pro-
tected the entrance, was abandoned by the enemy as soon as
the ships approached. On the 5th of April the troops landed
at La Quinta, and General Wentworth pushed forward through
a narrow defile to an open ground about a mile from St. Lazar,
which fort entirely commanded the town of Carthegena, and
was strongly fortified and defended by a numerous garrison.
After much altercation between the two commanders, it was
determined to storm this important fortress; and on the 9th,
Brigadier-general Guise, with five hundred grenadiers and a
thousand Marines, advanced against the enemy's lines in front
of the fort, followed by a body of Americans, carrying wool-
packs, scaling-ladders, and hand-grenades. The troops pushed
forward to the attack with great gallantry, although exposed
to a heavy and destructive flanking fire; and on reaching the
enemy's line, they rushed into the intrenchments, driving the
Spaniards into the fort, over the drawbridge which communi-
cated with the lines. But few of the Americans came up with
the materials for further operations ; and after an abortive at-
tempt to scale the walls of St. Lazar by a small detachment,
who were all cut to pieces, a general confusion ensued, and the

CUMBERLAND BAY. 23

troops were compelled to retire, with the loss of six hundred
men, killed and wounded. It was then decided, in a council of
war, that a re-embarkation should take place ; and after de-
stroying Castillo Grande, Vice-admiral Vernon returned to
Port Royal in Jamaica, where he arrived on the 19th of May.
The loss sustained arose more from the effects of the climate,
than in action with the enemy. Twenty-eight officers were
killed, and seventy-seven died from disease and fatigue. Co-
lonel Douglas, of the Marines, was among the slain; and
Lieut.-colonel Cochran was promoted to the vacancy.

After the arrival of the troops at Jamaica, the mortality con-
tinued very great among them. Many changes took place
between the regiments of foot and the Marines, and promotion
was established by rotation in the whole line. Within a few
weeks the corps, originally Douglas's, included amongst its
casualties three colonels, two lieutenant-colonels, and two ma-
jors. The fleet, consisting of eight sail of the line and twelve
frigates, with more than forty transports, having taken on board
a newly raised corps of 1000 negroes, who with the troops
amounted to 3400 land forces, sailed from Jamaica on the 1st
of July, and on the 18th anchored in Walthenham Bay, in the
island of Cuba, which was immediately named Cumberland, in
honour of his Royal Highness the Duke. It was determined
to attack the city of St. Jago, and the troops were accordingly
landed : meeting with no opposition, they marched some miles
up the country, and encamped on the banks of a navigable
river. In the mean time, Admiral Vernon despatched part of
his ships to blockade the port of St. Jago, and to watch the
motions of the Spanish admiral, who was lying with twelve
ships of the line at Havanna, a populous city on the west side
of the island. But on the 9th of October, General Wentworth
expressed his doubts of being able to proceed with the army,
or to subsist much longer in the part they occupied. A council
of war, held on the 9th, determined that it was impossible to
proceed further into the country ; and on the 7th of November

TEN MARINE REGIMENTS.

another council, consisting of the land officers only, resolved on
embarking the troops with all expedition. They were accord-
ingly put on board the transports on the 20th, without any
molestation from the enemy.

Thus ended the conquest of Cuba, the inhabitants of which,
from the incomprehensible conduct of the British troops, were
almost persuaded that they landed without any hostile inten-
tions ; for St. Jago, which was no more than four days' march
from Cumberland harbour, was weak in its defences on the land
side, and might, therefore, have been easily surprised ; and as
there was no army in the country to oppose an enemy, it is dif-
ficult to conceive why it was not immediately attempted. After
remaining four months on the island, the number of the British
force was so decreased by disease, that probably in another
month there would scarcely have been any left to bring home
an account of this disastrous expedition.

The total loss of officers, at the close of the year, amounted
to one commander of the land forces, five colonels, ten lieu-
tenant-colonels, seven majors, fifty-five captains, one hundred
and sixteen subalterns, and fourteen staff officers. Each of the
marine regiments, which on leaving Europe consisted of more
than 1000 men, were now so reduced, that, including the four
battalions of Gooch's Americans, only 251 Serjeants, 244 cor-
porals, 89 drummers, and 2073 privates, remained fit for duty.

During the year 1741, the number of marine regiments was
increased to ten, and the regulations of this establishment were
very similar in their principles to those framed for the line : they
were clothed by their colonels, who had the privilege of nomi-
nating officers for commissions. The number of men embarked
on board the largest ships did not exceed one hundred, under a
captain and three subalterns ; and the smallest not less than
twenty under an officer. The field-officers never embarked,
unless the whole battalion was destined for a particular
service.

Officers commanding Marine detachments were required to

PORTO BELLO. 25

make effective returns of them every two months, attested by
the captains and pursers of each ship, in order to assist the
numbers of the regimental companies, and to guide the recruit-
ing service. The same deductions were made from them as in
the army for clothing and Chelsea Hospital, whether embarked
or not.

When attached to any ship, they were entitled to the same
indulgences as the seamen, receiving their provisions without
any deductions from their pay on that account ; and they had
short-allowance money, and the benefit of naval hospitals.
When sent thither, either sick or wounded, they were deemed
effective on their musters on shore, if producing a certificate
from the surgeon of the ship, and another from their command-
ing officer at head-quarters.

The paymaster-general issued the pay to the colonels of
regiments, or their agents, and the paymaster of each settled
the accounts agreeably to the muster-rolls from the commissary
general ; which muster-rolls, and the colonel's receipts, were
sufficient vouchers for passing the paymaster's accounts, &c.

When brigaded abroad, they were paid precisely in the same
manner as the army ; but the arrears of officers of Marines were
longer withheld, and the captains of companies were exposed
to peculiar hardships, particularly abroad, when they were often
obliged to assign that portion of their pay at an enormous dis-
count, in order to answer their temporary exigencies.

On the 15th January the expedition arrived at Jamaica
from Hispaniola, where they received a reinforcement of
2000 Marines from England. It was then determined to make
another attack on Porto Bello, and if successful, to march across
the Isthmus of Darien, and take the rich town of Panama.
After a delay of two months the troops embarked, and the
whole fleet anchored in the harbour of Porto Bello on the even-
ing of 28th March ; but to the surprise of the admiral, the land
officers considered, that as the season was far advanced, their
numbers diminished by sickness, and the separation of some of

26 LA GUYRA.

the transports, they deemed it impracticable to pursue further
measures. As there remained more than 2000 effective men,
an army more than sufficient to have secured the treasure of
Panama, and as there was no force in the whole country capa-
ble of meeting them in the field, this contemptible timidity is
unaccountable ; for in case of repulse they might have returned,
without the least apprehension of being harassed in their retreat.
The whole fleet sailed from Porto Bello in the early part of
April, and arrived at Jamaica on the 15th of May.

In September Admiral Vernon and General Wentworth were
recalled ; and thus terminated this vast enterprise against the
Spanish settlements in South America, in which enormous sums
were expended, and 10,000 lives sacrificed without the least
benefit to the nation. To the indecision of General Wentwortlfs
character, and deficiency of that intrepid alacrity which inspires
confidence in the soldier, may be attributed the cause of this
inglorious issue. The naval commander was desirous to make
the attack, but his contempt for his associate destroyed that
cordiality which is so essential in all operations, and it abated
the vigour which ought to have been exercised.

Previous to the departure of Vice-admiral Vernon from Ja-
maica, measures were taken to put that island in the best pos-
ture of defence, and for having the fleet efficiently supplied with
Marines which arrangement required nearly all that remained
fit for duty ; consequently, the force was so reduced, that Sir
Chaloner Ogle could only adopt a system of self-defence, as the
Spanish squadron in the Havanna was now superior to his own.
It having been represented to Sir Chaloner Ogle that
the Spanish settlements of La Guyra and Porto Cavallo,
on the coast of the Caraccas, were in a defenceless conditi-
on, the rear-admiral detached Captain Knowles with a small
squadron to Antigua, where he was reinforced by some other
ships; and 400 men of Dalzell's regiment, with 600 Marines,
were embarked on board the squadron. So little caution had
been used to conceal the destination of this armament, that the

PORTO CAVALLO. 27

governor of the Caraccas had two months' notice of the intended
expedition, and, consequently, the fortifications were strength-
ened with the utmost care.

The squadron arrived off La Guyra on the 18th February, and
about noon the attack commenced. Before one o'clock p. m.
the ships had all anchored, and were warmly engaged with the
batteries, which kept up a well-directed fire, and created great
annoyance by their red-hot shot. The British had great pros-
pect of success until the leading ship, the Burford, had her
cable cut ; being much disabled in her mast and rigging, she
fell out of the line, and drifting on board the Norwich, obliged
her, and also the Eltham, to quit their position, and with the
strength of the current the three ships drove a great way to
leeward. This disaster gave the enemy fresh spirits, and the
cannonade continued until a shell fell into their principal bat-
tery and exploded the magazine. Night coming on, the firing
ceased, when the squadron, having suffered considerably, drew
off, and on the following morning the commodore proceeded to
Curagoa to refit.

The service sustained a loss of one lieutenant and ninety-
two men killed ; Captain Lushington of the Burford, mortally,
and 308 wounded. The town was almost reduced to ruins, their
fortifications were greatly injured, and the Spaniards had 700
men killed and wounded.

The squadron being refitted, and having received a reinforce-
ment of Dutch volunteers, sailed on 20th March from Curae,oa,
to attack Porto Cavallo, and anchored under the Keys of Bar-
baret, on 15th April. The commodore perceiving that the ene-
my's batteries on Ponta Brava might be cannonaded with effect,
directed the Lively and Eltham to anchor within pistol-shot;
and before sunset these ships had effectually succeeded. The
soldiers and Marines, supported by 400 seamen, were then
landed, and proceeded to gain possession of the batteries; but
some confusion taking place, the troops hastily retired to the
beach. The commodore having determined to attack the place

28 CAPTURE OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND.

with his whole force, the ships on the morning of the 24th took
their positions as follows : — Assistance, Burford, Suffolk, and
Norwich, to batter the castle ; and the Scarborough, Lively, and
Eltham to cannonade the two fascine batteries. The firing con-
tinued until after dark, when the ships, being severely damaged,
cut their cables and retired out of range of the enemy's guns.
This fruitless attempt, with the loss of two hundred men in
killed and wounded, led to a council of war on the 28th, when
it was resolved to detach the ships belonging to the Leeward
Island station, together with the detachment of Dalzell's regi-
ment; and the rest of the squadron returned to Jamaica.
174 a ^n *ne "^ Apr^ his Majesty published a declaration
for the encouragement of the officers and crews of his
ships of war, privateers, and letters of marque ; by which the
property of all prizes taken by ships of war was declared to
belong solely to the captors, and the two last-mentioned were
to be regulated by the agreements with their owners.

At this period, when the establishment of the Marines was
11,556 men, an order was issued by the Secretary -at-war for
the ten regiments to recruit with expedition ; and to render
them speedily effective, impressed men were allotted to each: and
this expedient was also extended to many regiments of the line.
In the bill for recruiting, a clause was inserted that every one
who should voluntarily enlist in the land forces and marines,
would be entitled to a bounty of £4, and might require his dis-
charge from the service at the expiration of three years.

On the 8th of May, the Northumberland of 70 guns, Captain
Watson, having chased from the fleet of Sir Charles Hardy, on
the coast of Portugal, brought to action the Mars of 68, Con-
tent of 60, and Venus of 28 guns. After sustaining the fire of
the Mars, Captain Watson bore down to the Content, then nearly
a mile to leeward. This enabled the enemy to bring their
whole force into action, as the Mars followed to support her
consort. After a close engagement of upwards of three hours,
the Northumberland being totally disabled and Captain Wat-

THE LION AND ELIZABETH. 29

son mortally wounded, the master struck the colours before
either of the lieutenants could get on deck to assume the com-
mand. The enemy had 130 men killed and wounded. The
Northumberland was carried into Brest, having sustained a loss
of 18 killed, and 30 wounded.

On the 3rd of October the Victory of 110 guns, commanded
by Admiral Sir John Balchen, having separated in a heavy gale
from the fleet cruising off Ushant, foundered on the Caskets,
near Guernsey, and the admiral and all on board perished.

On the 9th July, the Lion of 50 guns, Captain Piercy Brett,
cruising in the Bay of Biscay, sustained a very gallant action
with the French 64-gun ship Elizabeth. After engaging from
5 a.m. until 10 a.m., the Lion, having her mizen-mast and
most of her spars shot away, was totally incapable of making
sail, and her opponent made off. The Lion had 55 men killed,
and 107 wounded; among the latter, her captain, all the lieu-
tenants, and the master. Of the enemy, the captain and 64
men were killed, and 140 wounded. Lieutenant Walter Gra-
ham of the Marines behaved so conspicuously, that, by the
recommendation of the First Lord of the Admiralty, he was pro-
moted to a troop in the 4th regiment of Dragoons.

As soon as it was determined to make an attack on
Louisbourg, Commodore Warren was directed to pro-
ceed to Canso from the Leeward Islands, to take command of
the naval operations. On the 4th of April the levies from New
England were encamped on Canso Hill, to await the arrival of
the rest of the troops ; while some ships of war, with several
large privateers, continued off the harbour of Louisbourg, in
order to cut off all supplies. On the 23rd of April, Commodore
Warren, with the Superb 60 guns, Eltham 40, Launceston 40,
and Mermaid 40, arrived at Canso, and after conferring with
General Pepperell, the squadron proceeded off Louisbourg ; and
on the 29th the troops, amounting to 4000 provincials, and 800
seamen and marines, were conveyed to Garbarus Bay, about
four miles distant. On the 30th, 2000 men landed, and beat

30 CAPE BRETON.

back the enemy who had opposed their debarkation ; and on the
following day the commodore landed the remainder of the troops
and the Marines from the ships, and they were formed into two
separate encampments ; one on the south side of the harbour to
attack the city, and that on the northern against the grand bat-
tery. During the night of the 1st of May our picquets set fire
to some storehouses ; and the French, conceiving that the whole
British force was advancing, retreated precipitately into the city.
The enemy's works were quickly occupied by the British, and
continued to be held in defiance of all their efforts to regain
them. The force on the north side of the harbour had pushed
their advances to within two hundred yards of the city by the
12th of May, and the cannonade was spiritedly maintained from
some heavy ordnance on an eminence called the Green Hill,
and a fascine battery mounting twenty-eight guns. The siege
was carried on under great difficulties; but every thing was
well conducted, and some important captures by the squadron
of ships bringing supplies from France, accelerated the fall of
the colony of Cape Breton.

A force of 200 Marines and 300 Americans embarked in the
boats to attack the island battery at midnight, on the 23rd of
May ; but owing to a dense fog, they failed in effecting a land-
ing. On the 27th, another detachment, consisting of 150 Ma-
rines and 200 provincials, proceeded on this enterprise ; but the
enemy were prepared for their approach, and opened a heavy
and destructive fire on the boats : nevertheless, the troops
pushed gallantly ashore, and persevered in their efforts to scale
the walls until sunrise; by which time they were so reduced in
number, as to be compelled to surrender themse^es to the
enemy. On the 12th of June, by great exertion, some cannon
were planted on a cliff which commanded the platform of the
island battery ; and after forty-nine days of unceasing exertion,
Louisbourg capitulated, and with it the whole dependency of
Cape Breton, which was accomplished with the loss of about
100 men, while that of the enemy exceeded 300. The reduction

ATTACK OF i/OHIENT. 31

of this settlement was of great importance to Great Britain, as

well as to our North American possessions : it freed the northern

colonies from a powerful neighbour, overawed the Indians of

that country, and secured the possession of the province of

Nova Scotia. At the same time, it distressed the French in

their fishing and navigation, and removed all apprehension of

encroachment or rivalship with our establishments on the coast

of Newfoundland.

, „ , _ Ever since the institution of the marine regiments in
1745. -„nn . .

1739, commissions were purchased and sold, although

they always bore an inferior value to those of the army. A per-
quisite arose to the colonels from the disposal of the appoint-
ments of second-lieutenants, when their recommendations were
approved of by his Majesty; and such commissions usually
produced to those officers from £250 to £280 ; while ensign-
cies in the line sometimes yielded as much as £400. The great
expense which had accrued in the maintenance of the land
forces and marines, led to the appointment of a committee of
inquiry. In this investigation it appeared that the colonel of a
marine regiment had a greater emolument than an officer com-
manding a regiment of the line, arising from the comparative
superiority in their numbers, and the articles of clothing being
of an inferior quality.

A squadron of six sail of the line, under Admiral
Lestock, with a fleet of transports conveying a military
force of 5000 men under Lieutenant-general St. Clair, sailed
from Plymouth on the 14th of September, destined to make an
attack on the port of L'Orient. On the morning of the 20th,
the troops landed in the bay of Quimperlay, about ten miles
from Port Louis, without sustaining any loss. Early on the
21st the general began his march, leaving the corps of Marines,
under Colonel Holmes, to assist in landing the stores and artil-
lery. The army was divided into two columns ; the first arrived
at the windmill near L'Orient early in the evening, and were
shortly afterwards joined by the other division. Preparations

MARINE FIELD-OFFICERS.

were made for bombarding the town ; and after a fruitless par-
ley with a deputation from the inhabitants, who proposed terms
for the surrender of the place, considerable damage was done
by our artillery ; but the enemy, taking advantage of the delay
in our operations, assembled a formidable force, which induced
the Lieutenant-general to withdraw his army, and the re-em-
barkation was effected, after sustaining a loss of 150 men killed
and wounded.

On the 4th of October, the troops landed on the peninsula
of Quiberon, and took possession of a fort mounting eighteen
guns. After destroying all the forts and guns, as well as those
on the islands of Houat and Hedic, the army re-embarked, and
the expedition sailed for Ireland. In the gradual increase of
the army during the present war, the Marines became incor-
porated with the line, and the 44th regiment was styled the
1st Marines.

The following is a detail of the field-officers of each corps,
all of which were quartered in the vicinity of the principal sea-
ports of Great Britain :

JVo. of Regiment.

44th or 1st Marines.

45th 2nd "

46th 3rd

47th 4th

48th 5th "

49th 6th

50th 7th

51st 8th "

52nd 9th "

53rd 10th "

Colonel.

G. Churchill.
Robt. Frazer.
C. H. Holmes.
C. George.
C. J. Cochran.

Laforey.

H. Cornwall.
J. Dimcombe.
C. Powlett.
Sir A. Agnew.

Lieut. -colonel.
N. Mitchell.
J. Leighton.
P. Damar.
P. Hutchinson.
C. Whiteford.
C. Gordon.
J. Paterson.
T. Cunningham.
G. Walsh.
C. Pawlett.

Major.

J. M'Donald.
T. Matthews.
W. Brown.
J. Eead.
J. Stuart.
C. Leighton.
Ft. Bendish.
J. Brewse.

C. Durand.

These regiments, when complete, were supposed to consist of
1000 rank and file, with ten companies in each battalion; and
at this period, the whole of the forces upon the British military
establishment amounted to 85,600 men.

DEFEAT OF JONQUIERE AND LETENDEUR. 33

1747 ^e French, persisting in their plan of operations,

resolved to make another attempt to recover Cape
Breton; and a squadron was equipped for that service, con-
sisting of one ship of 74, one of 66, three of 52 guns, and
four frigates, under commodore De la Jonquiere, with several
transports, amounting altogether to thirty-eight sail. Admiral
Anson, with eleven sail of the line and three ships of fifty guns,
sailed from Plymouth on the 9th of April j and on the 3d of
May fell in with the fleet of M. De la Jonquiere, off Cape
Finisterre. After a smart action with the advanced ships of the
british fleet, in which the enemy lost 700 men killed and
wounded, five ships of the line and nine of the convoy were
captured. The british loss amounted to 520 in killed and
wounded.

On the 6th of October, a french fleet of merchant-men under
commodore Letendeur sailed from the isle of Aix for the West
Indies, under convoy of nine ships of the line and several fri-
gates ; and on the 14th, off Cape Finisterre, they fell in with a
british squadron, commanded by rear-admiral Hawke, of thir-
teen ships of the line, including two of fifty guns. The commo-
dore, finding it impossible to avoid an action, directed a sixty
gun ship and the frigates to proceed with the convoy ; and then
formed his squadron in order of battle. The action commenced
at noon, and was continued with great spirit until night; by
which time six sail of the line had surrendered. The com-
modore, in the Tonnant of 80 guns, and the Intrepid of 74,
made their escape. The British had 154 killed, and 558
wounded. The enemy's loss amounted to 800 in killed and
wounded. The order of the Bath was conferred on rear-admiral
Hawke, and the thanks of parliament voted to the officers,
seamen, and marines of the squadron.

In the early part of this year, his Majesty directed that the
several regiments of marines which were then existing, or might
afterwards be raised, should for the future obey such orders as
they, from time to time, might receive from the lords com-

VOL. I. d

SIEGE OF PONDICHERRY.

missioners of the Admiralty. The present constitution of the
corps may in some degree be dated from this period ; but
it was not until 1755, that the marines were embodied in
companies, at the respective divisions, as will be presently
shown.

The navy of Spain was now reduced to twenty-two ships
of the line, and that of France to thirty-one ; whilst the navy of
Great Britain amounted to 126 sail of the line and 75 frigates.
Admiral Boscawen, who had sailed from England the pre-
vious November with a squadron of four ships of the line and
two fifties, left the Cape of Good Hope on the 18th of May,
having been reinforced by 400 dutch troops, and arrived at the
island of Mauritius on the 23d of June. Finding the enemy
fully prepared at every point, and considering that the dangers
of approaching the land would probably involve a great sacrifice
of men, the admiral determined on proceeding to the coast of
Coromandel, to undertake the siege of Pondicherry ; and he
arrived at Fort St. David's on the 29th of July, where he was
joined by the squadron under vice-admiral Griffin. The united
force amounted to six sail of the line and four ships of fifty
guns, with several Company's ships well armed, exhibiting the
greatest marine force that had ever been seen in India, with an
army of 5220 men, of which 880 were marines belonging to the
squadron. The troops landed and were put in motion on the
8th of August, and on the 11th they met some opposition from
an advanced corps of the enemy ; but nothing of importance
occurred, until it was deemed essential to carry the fort of
Arian Coupan, which appeared a mere outwork, but was fa-
tally found to be of considerable strength, being fortified with
a cavalier at each of the angles, with a deep dry ditch full
of pit-falls, and a covered way. The attack was made by 700
men, composed of the grenadiers and picquets of the army, who
were met by such a heavy discharge of grape and musketry,
and a galling fire from two batteries on the opposite side of the
river, that they were compelled to retreat. By this time they

DISTINGUISHED FEMALE BRAVERY. 35

had sustained a loss of 150 men, with many valuable officers.
Major Goodere of the artillery, who commanded in this unfor-
tunate attack, was mortally wounded, and his loss was severely
felt, as he was the person on whom the admiral relied for con-
ducting the operations against Pondicherry. This repulse did
not deter the British from making another attempt: 1100 sailors
landed and brought up battering cannon, and on the 17th a
battery of four guns opened on the fort; but the distance was
too great, and whilst the British were occupied in constructing
another battery, a desperate attack was made on their entrench-
ments. Although at first it was attended with some success,
the French were eventually driven back, and their commanding
officer taken prisoner. Regular approaches were carried on for
some days, when an accident happened to the enemy on the
30th, by means of which, possession was gained of the place.
A large quantity of powder having exploded, blew up the fort,
and killed upwards of 100 men ; and the enemy consequently
destroyed the remainder of the fortifications, and retreated to
Pondicherry.

The british troops were employed repairing the fortifications,
and endeavouring to render the place tenable, until the 25th,
when the army advanced, and encamped within two miles of
Pondicherry. The operations were now carried on at the
north-west side of the town, and communication being opened
with the ships to the northward of it, every thing requisite for
maintaining the siege was landed. Early in the morning, the
advanced guard of about 100 men, and consisting principally
of marines, was attacked by very superior numbers, headed by
their principal engineer, M. de Paradis, who was mortally
wounded, and the enemy repulsed with the loss of 120 men.

It is related that a woman fought in the ranks as a marine,
who was named Hannah Snell, a native of Worcester. She
enlisted at Portsmouth in colonel Fraser's regiment, and em-
barked on board the Swallow, one of the squadron under ad-
miral Boscawen, when she behaved with distinguished courage,

36 FAILURE AT PONDICHERRY.

and received a ball in the groin, which she herself extracted
two days afterwards. Eleven other wounds in both legs ren-
dered her removal to the hospital at Cuddalore absolutely
necessary, and having returned home in the Eltham frigate, her
sex was not discovered until she obtained her discharge. She
afterwards wore the marine dress, and having presented a peti-
tion to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, obtained
a pension of thirty pounds a-year for life. It was not until the
26th of September that the batteries were completed ; but they
were so inferior to those of the enemy, that two ships were
warped nearer to the shore. The water being too shallow to
admit of their producing much effect, they were withdrawn on
the 28th, with the loss of captain Adams, of the Harwich, and
one seaman. The approaches had now reached within 800
yards of the covered way, but on account of an inundation,
they could advance no further on that side. Some new batte-
ries were erected by the British, whilst the army having greatly
increased their fire, had dismounted nine pieces of cannon.

The admiral perceiving that little impression had been made
on the defences of the place, and that the troops were becom-
ing sickly, called a council of war on the 30th of September ;
which, taking into consideration that when the rains set in, the
low country would be overflowed, and apprehensive of diffi-
culty in removing the artillery and stores, combined with the
danger likely to arise to the fleet if they remained on the coast,
were of opinion that the siege ought to be immediately raised,
especially as there were 700 men on the sick list.

Several days were occupied in destroying the batteries, em-
barking the cannon, and removing the sick and wounded to the
hospital-ships. This being completed, the army began its re-
treat, which was much impeded by the rains that had already
set in, and which it would have been almost impossible to
accomplish had it been deferred two days longer. The loss
sustained in this expedition amounted to 757 soldiers, 43 artil-
lery men, and 265 sailors : in all, 1 065 Europeans.

ADMIRAL KNOWLES AT PORT LOUIS. 37

The garrison of Pondicherry consisted of 1800 Europeans,
and 3000 Sepoys ; their total loss did not exceed 250 men.
The failure was attributable to the delay in advancing on Pon-
dicherry, and the ill-advised measures that were pursued. Had
the attack been directed against the north side, they could have
carried on their operations even to the foot of the glacis, there
being no inundation to stop them ; and the camp might have
been placed at a due distance from the batteries, and so close
to the shore, that the supplies from the fleet might have been
landed under their protection. The miscarriage of the british be-
fore Pondicherry tended to lower the nation in the estimation
of all the powers in Hindostan, and the French were in conse-
quence considered of the highest military reputation.

On the West India station, rear-admiral Knowles embarked
240 men of Trelawney's regiment on board the squadron, with
an intention of making an attack on St. Jago de Cuba, and
sailed from Port Royal, in Jamaica, on 13th of February ; but
the northerly wind blowing unusually strong, the ships could
not reach their destination. It was therefore determined to
attempt the french settlement of Port Louis, on the south side
of Hispaniola. The british squadron, consisting of seven sail
of the line, and one of fifty guns, arrived off this place on the
8th of March, and immediately proceeded to cannonade the
fort, mounting seventy-eight guns, with a garrison of 600 men.
The ships moored in a close line a-head, within pistol-shot of
the walls ; and after an uninterrupted fire of three hours, the
place surrendered, when major Scott, with the troops and ma-
rines, landed and took possession. Our loss amounted to 70
men, killed and wounded ; among the former were captains
Rentone and Cust of the navy. After destroying the fort, the
whole force re-embarked.

On the 29th September, the same squadron, when near the
Havanna, fell in with six Spanish ships of the line from Vera
Cruz. After an engagement of several hours, in which the
British had 59 men killed and 120 wounded, and the enemy 86

38 EXTINCTION OF MARINE REGIMENTS.

killed, and 197 wounded, the Conquestadore of 64 guns was
captured, and the Africa 74 subsequently destroyed.

The navies of France and Spain were now so reduced as to be
no longer formidable, and this may be truly said to have been
the only advantage gained by the war ; for by the treaty of
peace, concluded in the present year at Aix-la-Chapelle, all the
conquests made by Great Britain from France and Spain were
to be restored. So that after a long and sanguinary contest of
nearly ten years' continuance, and increasing the national debt
to eighty millions sterling, the condition of Great Britain was
little better than when hostilities commenced ; and that impor-
tant matter which had been the occasion of this expensive war,
— the right of british ships to navigate the american seas with-
out being searched, was not even mentioned. Our claim to the
province of Nova Scotia was to be left to the discussion of
commissioners to be named for that purpose ; and this last
article, not being properly settled, was mainly the cause of
another war.

A bill was introduced into Parliament by the minister, " For
reducing into one act the laws relating to the navy ;" by which
the half-pay officers were to be rendered subject to martial law.
The sea-officers presented a petition to the House of Commons,
requesting to be heard by counsel ; and although the minister
mustered sufficient strength to reject the petition, he thought
proper to relinquish this unconstitutional attempt.
, . Amongst the many reductions that took place during

this, and the early part of the ensuing year, was the
total extinction of the regiments of marines, the officers of
which were placed on half-pay. At this time the comparative
rank between the navy and army was established ; and an
order was issued for an exact conformity of dress throughout
the naval service.

The Earl of Halifax, who presided at the Board of

Trade, formed a design for establishing a colony in Nova

Scotia, and grants of land in that province were offered to every

COLONEL CORNWALLIS AT CHEBUCTOU. 39

rank in his Majesty's land and sea forces, with an extension of
privilege and property to those taking their families with them.
This project was so much approved of, that 4000 adventurers
sailed from England under the protection of colonel Cornwallis,
who landed in the harbour of Chebuctou on the 21st of June,
in the neighbourhood of which they built a town that was
named Halifax, in commemoration of their liberal and humane
patron. The French were displeased with this assertion of our
right ; and by way of counterbalance, they attempted to form a
settlement on the island of Tobago, in the West Indies. In
consequence of a firm remonstrance to the court of Versailles,
the measure was abandoned ; yet they continued to assert their
claim to St. Lucia, Tobago, and other neutral islands. In North
America their encroachments were so offensive, that the british
subjects bordering on the French settlements were loud in their
complaints to the government. After repeated remonstrances
by our ambassador at Paris, commissioners were appointed by
each nation in 1750, to settle the limits of Acadia, or Nova
Scotia. These functionaries met in Paris, and continued their
conference until 1753, during which time the Indians bordering
on the british dominions in North America, were instigated by
the French to commit acts of violence on the inhabitants of
our back settlements; and in 1752 the Spaniards resumed their
practice of interrupting our navigation in the West Indies. In
1753 the French erected a chain of forts along the lakes of Erie
and Ontario, so as to connect their settlements on the Mis-
sissippi with Canada ; and at length, having crossed Lake
Champlain, they built a fort at Crown Point, in the province
of New York.

Notwithstanding these flagrant acts of hostility, the court of
London continued to receive assurances of the friendly dispo-
sition of the french government; but early in 1755, the british
ministry were undeceived in their reliance on those professions
of good faith, by certain information that a considerable fleet
was preparing to sail for America from the different ports of

40 CAPTURE OF ALCIDE AND LYS.

France, with a formidable number of troops on board. The
british minister, roused at this information, ordered an imme-
diate equipment of men-of-war ; and in the latter part of April,
vice-admiral Boscawen, with eleven ships of the line, sailed
for America, and was shortly afterwards followed by rear-
admiral Holburne, with six ships of the line and one frigate.
The government had received subsequent intelligence that the
french armament consisted of twenty-five ships of the line,
sixteen sail of which, with troops on board, under the command
of M. Bois de la Mothe, who having detached four of the line
and two frigates for Louisbourg, the remainder proceeded to
Quebec, where they safely arrived, with the exception of the
Alcide 64, and the Lys of 20 guns, which were captured on the
8th of June, after a gallant resistance, by the Dunkirk and
Defiance of 60 guns.

This action may be considered the commencement of the war,
for as soon as it was known in Europe, the french ambassador
left London, and orders were issued by the british government
for making reprisals.

CHAPTER II.

From the year 1755 to 1775.

In the early part of this year, a levy of fifty companies
of marines was ordered ; they were now for the first
time formed into three divisions, stationed at Chatham, Ports-
mouth, and Plymouth, being under the immediate control of
the Board of Admiralty, and an Act of Parliament was passed
for their regulation while on shore.

From this period, the corps of marines has constituted a
part of the military force on the peace establishment. The
sale of commissions was abolished, yet the interchange of ap-
pointments in the army continued to take place ; but this sys-
tem was soon altered, and the promotion was confined to regular
rotation, which regulation has been enforced ever since. Every
appointment was notified from the Admiralty, and appeared in
the " London Gazette ;" but the practice of its being thus offi-
cially announced was discontinued, and it is only within a short
period that the publication of the promotions in the marines
has been resumed.

In the early part of 1756, the French collected a considerable
force on the coast of the British Channel ; and although these
preparations excited great alarm in this country, they were
made merely to divert our attention from the armaments in the
Mediterranean: nevertheless, it was sufficient to cause so much
excitement, that hessian and hanoverian troops were brought
over to assist us. Amongst the additional reinforcements, 9138
marines were voted in Parliament; and in order to complete
the establishment, thirty additional companies were ordered to
be raised. The expedient of a land impress was resorted to,

42 BYNG AND GALLISSION AIRE.

by passing an il Act for the more speedy and effectual recruit-
ing his Majesty's land forces and marines." But it was sus-
pended on the 13th of May by royal command.

As it now became apparent that the French, in preparing an
armament at Toulon, meditated an attack upon Minorca, it
was deemed expedient to reinforce our garrison on that island.
Admiral Byng was ordered to proceed with ten ships of the
line to the Mediterranean for that purpose ; and the 7th regi-
ment of Fusileers being ordered to embark on board the squa-
dron, the marines were sent on shore to make room for them.
The expedition sailed from Spithead on the 6th of April, and
arrived at Gibraltar on the 2nd of May, where it was joined
17r„ by the squadron under captain Edgecumbe, who after
landing a captain, two subalterns, and 110 marines,
with 150 sailors, to assist in the defence of Minorca, had been
driven away by the appearance of a french fleet of twelve ships
of the line, under admiral De la Gallissionaire.

Admiral Byng having refitted his ships, and taking with him
those under captain Edgecumbe, quitted Gibraltar on the 8th
of May, and arrived off Minorca on the 18th, with the intention
of throwing succour into the castle of St. Philip; but learning
that the enemy's fleet was not far off, he considered it prudent,
from the circumstance of having no marines on board the
squadron, and the ships being but badly manned, to retain
the troops ; consequently, the garrison was left to depend upon
its own resources. The hostile squadron was shortly afterwards
discovered by our look-out ships ; but it was not until the 20th
that both fleets formed their lines of battle, when the British
bore down to the attack. The action was vigorously main-
tained by the rear division under rear-admiral West, until the
Intrepid had her fore topmast shot away ; the wreck falling
on the foresail, the ship became ungovernable, and rendered it
necessary for those astern of her to heave all aback. This
accident caused an opening between the van and rear divisions,
which exposed the former to the enemy's fire. The ships a-

SIEGE OF FORT ST. PHILIP. 43

head were now directed to support the rear of our fleet, when
the enemy, taking advantage of the confusion that prevailed,
kept edging away, and being better sailers than the British,
they avoided a renewal of the engagement. The number of
ships engaged was equal, but those of the enemy were gene-
rally of larger dimensions, carried more guns and more men.
Our loss amounted to 43 killed, 168 wounded. The enemy
had 38 killed, and 181 wounded. The Defiance bore the brunt
of the action, having her captain and 13 killed, and 45 wounded.
Our ships suffered so much in their masts and rigging, that the
admiral, after collecting his crippled ships, found it expedient
to call a council of war ; and on that decision the squadron
proceeded to Gibraltar, leaving the brave defenders of Fort
St. Philip to their fate.

In the early part of May, the french fleet, of which we have
just spoken, sailed from Toulon, and landed 15,000 troops on
the island of Minorca. The siege of Fort St. Philip had lasted
seventy days, during which the British endured excessive fa-
tigue in defending such extensive fortifications with so incon-
siderable a force. On the 25th the enemy stormed the works
at several points, but with partial success ; the firing continued
from ten at night until four the next morning, when marshal
De Richelieu beat a parley, for leave to bury the dead and re-
move the wounded. A suspension of arms was agreed upon,
but the enemy took this opportunity to strengthen the lodg-
ments they had made, by throwing a number of men into them;
whence they communicated by subterraneous passages with all
the other outworks, and even with the body of the place itself.
This dastardly act of treachery, so unworthy of the character
of a military nation, led to the immediate capitulation of the
garrison, the whole force of which amounted to no more than
2760 men, and their loss was 93 killed, and 340 wounded.

Admiral Byng was recalled, and tried for not doing his ut-
most to destroy the enemy ; on which charge he was found
guilty, and sentenced to be shot; but the court considered

44 CAPTURE OF FOURDROYANT.

that his misconduct did not proceed from want of courage or
disaffection, and they therefore most earnestly recommended
him to his Majesty's clemency. Notwithstanding this humane
consideration, the sentence was carried into execution at twelve
o'clock on the 14th of March, 1757, on board the Monarque,
in Portsmouth harbour.

Twenty companies were added to the establishment of the
marines, to complete the parliamentary vote of 11,419 men.
On the 8th of September admiral Hawke, with sixteen ships of
the line, seven frigates, and fifty-five transports, conveying ten
regiments of foot, two of marines, and a proportionate train of
artillery, sailed from Portsmouth to make an attack on the port
of Rochefort. Part of the fleet, which had been detached under
vice-admiral Knowles, anchored in Basque Roads on the 23rd,
and on the following morning this division, consisting of seven
sail of the line, entered the roads of Aix. After an hour's can-
nonade the troops took possession of that island, which, though
possessing fortifications planned by the celebrated Vauban, were
so dilapidated as to be incapable of defence, and there were only
six guns mounted in a battery, en barbette.

After several days, it was determined to make an effort to
destroy the shipping and arsenal at Rochefort ; but no sooner
had the troops embarked in the boats to proceed on that service,
than the attack was relinquished, and on the 29th the fleet re-
turned to England.

A further augmentation this year of thirty companies,
completed the establishment of marines to 14,845 men.
On the 28th February the Monmouth of 64 guns, Captain Gar-
diner, having chased from a squadron under admiral Osborn
when off Cape de Gat, brought to action the french 84-gun
ship Fourdroyant ; and, notwithstanding the great disparity of
force, maintained a gallant action, which lasted from nine in the
morning until one in the afternoon ; when this powerful ship,
after receiving a broadside from the Swiftsure, struck her colours,
having lost her main and mizen masts, with 100 men killed, and

ATTACK OF SENEGAL AND G0I?EE. 45

90 wounded. The Monmouth lost her captain, and 27 killed,
and 79 wounded. The Fourdroyant mounted twenty-four and
forty-two pounders, whilst the Monmouth had only twelves and
twenty-fours. The marine officers of the Monmouth were cap-
tain James Austin, and lieutenant George Preston.

In order to frustrate the intentions of the french government,
in the equipment of armaments to relieve their american colo-
nies, admiral Hawke, with seven ships of the line, was de-
spatched to Basque Roads, where he arrived on 3rd April, and
anchored inside the isle of Aix. The enemy's squadron of five
ships of the line cut their cables and ran ashore ; but they were
afterwards by great exertion dragged through the mud, and got
into the Charente. On the 5th, the admiral sent 150 marines,
under captain Ewer, to demolish the new works which the
enemy had erected on the isle of Aix ; which service being ef-
fected, he re-embarked in perfect order.

On 9th March a small squadron under the command of cap-
tain Marsh, which sailed from Plymouth, having on board 200
marines under major Mason, and a detachment of artillery
commanded by captain Walker, arrived off the entrance of the
Senegal river on 24th April. The governor of Fort Louis en-
deavoured to oppose their passing the bar; but the French were
beaten back, and a landing of the troops speedily effected. Pre-
paration was made for attacking the fort, which is situated on a
small island about twelve miles up the river; but proposals
were submitted by the governor to surrender the colony. On
the 2nd May, major Monson, with his marines, took possession
of the fort, in which was a garrison of 240 soldiers, with 90
pieces of cannon. The squadron then proceeded to attack the
island of Goree ; but their force proving insufficient, the attempt
miscarried.

Admiral Boscawen, with twenty-three ships of the line, seve-
ral frigates, and a fleet of transports, conveying 12,000 troops
under major-general Amherst, sailed from Spithead on the
18th of February, and arrived at Halifax on the 9th of May,

46 ATTACK OF LOUISBOURG.

whence he sailed on the 28th ; and this fleet, numbering toge-
ther 157 sail, anchored on the 2nd of June in Gabareuse Bay,
about two leagues westward of Louisbourg. Chevalier Drucour
had taken every possible precaution to prevent a surprise, by
throwing up entrenchments and having batteries along the coast.
In the harbour were five ships of the line and five frigates, three
of which were sunk at the entrance during the siege. The gar-
rison consisted of 2500 troops, besides 600 armed inhabitants.
For several days the surf ran so high, as to render it impossible
to land the troops; but on the 8th the weather became more
moderate, and the soldiers were in the boats at break of day.
Under cover of the fire from the frigates and smaller vessels, they
moved towards the shore in three divisions. The enemy reserved
their fire until the boats were close to the shore ; but the calm-
ness and intrepidity of the British overcame all obstacles, al-
though the surf was so great that many of the boats were
destroyed. Brigadier-general Wolfe jumped into the sea, and
being followed by his whole division, who were instantly formed
into line, they drove the enemy at the point of the bayonet. The
other two divisions following their gallant example, the French
fled in great confusion, leaving seventeen pieces of cannon and
two mortars, with their ammunition, in the hands of the British ;
and before night the whole army, with its cannon and stores,
were landed, and the town regularly invested. The governor
destroyed his out-posts, with all the buildings within two miles
of the ramparts, and prepared for a resolute defence. On the
12th general Wolfe, with 1200 men, was ordered to march
round to the north-east harbour, where he erected a powerful
battery, which silenced the fire from the island. On the 25th
the marines were landed, and being formed into a battalion, took
post at Kennington Cove ; and on the 30th they were success-
fully engaged with the enemy. On the 28th the French sank a
ship of the line and three frigates at the mouth of the harbour,
to prevent the entrance of our squadron. The army underwent
great fatigue in carrying on the approaches, which were con-

REDUCTION OF CAPE BRETON AND ST. JOHN. 47

siderably advanced, when an accident afforded them an un-
looked-for relief, and greatly distressed the enemy : on the 21st
of July a shell from the light-house battery having set fire to
the 74-gun ship Entreprenant, she immediately blew up, and
the Capricieux and Celebre of 64 guns taking fire, they were
also destroyed. In the night of the 25th of July 600 seamen,
under captains Laforey and Balfour, pulled into the harbour,
and boarded the Prudent 74 and the Bienfaisant of 64 guns,
and carried them, without much resistance : the former having
taken the ground was destroyed, but the Bienfaisant was
brought triumphantly away. On the 26th of July the garrison
of Louisbourg capitulated, and the islands of St. John and Cape
Breton were ceded to his britannic Majesty.

A squadron of four ships of the line, two frigates, with 600
troops, sailed from Cork on the 9th of November, and anchored
in the road of Goree on the 24th of December. On either side
of the bay was a small fort, with several batteries extending
along the shore, mounting in the whole 100 pieces of cannon ;
and the garrison consisted of 300 regulars, and about the same
number of negro inhabitants. On the morning of the 28th, the
troops were ordered into the boats, ready for landing ; and the
ships having taken their stations, opened a heavy fire, which
was returned by the enemy with great spirit. After this can-
nonade had been maintained for several hours, the governor
surrendered at discretion ; upon which Keppel landed all the
marines of the squadron, and took possession of the island.

In November, the Buckingham of 64 guns, captain Tyrrel,
accompanied by the Weazle sloop, being near Guadaloupe, dis-
covered a fleet of nineteen sail, under convoy of the french
74-gun ship Florissant and two frigates. After a running
fight, in which the Buckingham was annoyed by the frigates,
captain Tyrrel closed with the Florissant, and the action was
maintained with great determination on both sides. Captain
Tyrrel received a wound which compelled him to resign the
command to lieutenant, Marshall, who fell gloriously, and the

48 COLONEL RYCAUT SUPERSEDED.

second-lieutenant continued the engagement until the french
colours were hauled down. The Florissant had 180 men killed,
and 300 wounded ; whilst the Buckingham had only 7 killed,
and 17 dangerously wounded. The. british ship was so much
disabled in her masts and rigging, that the Florissant escaped
during the night. Captain Tyrrel thus speaks of the conduct
of the marines : — " Captain Troy, at the head of the marines,
performed the service of a brave and gallant officer, cleared the
poop and quarter-deck of the enemy, and drove her men like
sheep down the main-deck."

An expedition, under commodore Moore, sailed from
England in the latter part of the preceding year, consist-
ing of nine ships of the line, a frigate, four bombs, with sixty
transports containing six regiments of foot. 800 marines were
embarked in the squadron, commanded by brevet-colonel
Rycaut, of the Portsmouth division, and it was intended that
they should have been formed into a battalion to co-operate
with the land forces, but the commodore altered this arrange-
ment, and landed the detachments as it became necessary ;
consequently, the services of colonel Rycaut were dispensed
with. Dr. Beatson remarks, that " Colonel Rycaut, of the
marines, was deprived of all command, whereby that useful
corps was never permitted to land and act with the land forces,
which was a very great loss to the army."

They arrived at Barbadoes on the 3rd of January, 1759,
whence they sailed on the 13th, and entered the bay of Fort
Royal, Martinico, on the 15th. Early on the following morn-
ing, the Bristol and Ripon attacked a battery of seven guns on
Negro Point, which they soon silenced, and the marines from
both ships were landed ; who, climbing up the rocks, entered
the fort and hoisted the british colours. At four o'clock, the
signal being made for disembarking the troops, they were im-
mediately conveyed to the shore, under cover of the fire from
the ships, and landed without much opposition ; but finding it
impracticable to bring the cannon sufficiently near for attacking

ATTACK OF FORT ROYAL. 49

the town, the forces re-embarked, in order to proceed to St.
Pierre. When they arrived before that place, new difficulties
arose, which occasioned a council of war. The commodore had
no doubt of being able to reduce the town ; but as the troops
had suffered greatly by disease, and the probability of the ships
being so disabled in the attack as to prevent them from avail-
ing themselves of their success to undertake further operations,
he recommended that they should proceed against Guadaloupe.
The fleet arrived on the 23rd of January before the town of
Basseterre, the capital of the island, a place of considerable
extent, defended by strong batteries towards the sea ; and on
an eminence to the southward of the town stands Fort Royal,
mounting forty-seven pieces of cannon. The chief engineer
was of opinion that this fortress, from its elevation, was impreg-
nable to the squadron ; yet a council of war determined on the
attack, and the ships took up their positions at nine a. m. on
the 23rd, — the Lion 74 abreast of a battery of nine guns ; St.
George 90, Norfolk 74, and Cambridge 80 opposite the citadel,
and kept up an incessant cannonade until five p. m., when the
fort ceased firing. At ten a. m., the Panther 50 brought up
close to the royal battery in the town, of twelve guns, and con-
tinued engaging for several hours, unassisted by the Burford
70, who was to have supported her ; but owing to some accident
she did not reach her station, nor take any part in the action.
The Rippon 60 ran so close to the shore, that she grounded ; and
in consequence of the Berwick 64 relinquishing her station on
the approach of some vessels on fire, she became exposed to the
battery of St. Nicholas, of seven guns, as well as that of Morne
Rouge, mounting six guns en barbette. The Rippon having
suffered considerably from an explosion, which blew up the
poop and set the ship on fire, made the signal for assistance:
on which the Bristol 50 ran down, and took a position between
her and the St. Nicholas battery ; the marines at the same time
taking the militia in the trenches in flank, soon dispersed them.
In the evening the bomb-vessels threw shells into the town,

VOL. I. e

50 REDUCTION OF FORT LOUIS.

which set it on fire, and the magazines blew up with a terrible
explosion. The only officer killed was lieutenant Roberts of
the marines, on board the Norfolk ; and among the wounded,
captain Trelawney of the Lion, lieutenant Curies of the ma-
rines of the same ship, and lieutenant Chandy of the marines
of the Rippon; with a total of 30 killed, and 60 wounded.
On the 24th the troops landed without opposition, took pos-
session of the heights, and, the 61st regiment having marched
into the citadel, hoisted the british colours. The country was
far from being reduced to submission ; it abounded in mountains
and defiles, and the inhabitants were determined to defend their
possessions to the last extremity. The french commandant,
M. Nadau d'Etreuil, posted himself in a deep cleft in the moun-
tains, which entirely commanded the passage into the Capes-
terres, the richest and best cultivated part of the island, which
was very difficult of access, the whole environs being inter-
sected by deep ravines. On the 26th a summons was sent by
the British, which the commandant rejected with firmness.
Some skirmishes took place, in which the 61st regiment had
an opportunity of distinguishing itself, in attacking the enemy's
entrenchments.

It being resolved to reduce Fort Louis on the Grand-terre
side of the island, the squadron, under captain Harman of the
Berwick, moved on to the attack on the 13th February. The
cannonade lasted five hours, during which every house was
burnt, a breach made in the walls, and the batteries silenced
along the shore. The troops then got into the boats, and major
Campbell with his marines, and some companies of the royal
highland regiment, with great difficulty landed. Finding that
their ammunition was mostly destroyed, they drove the enemy
at the point of the bayonet, and after a severe struggle carried
the fort, with all the batteries.

The death of general Hopson changed the plan of opera-
tions; for his successor, major-general Barrington, re-embarked
the troops, after leaving a garrison in Fort Royal and blowing

DEFEAT OF M. DE LA CLUE. 51

up the other works. On the 7th of March the fleet sailed for
Fort Louis, on the Grand-terre side of the island, where the
whole had arrived by the 20th. The commodore receiving in-
formation of the arrival of a french squadron of eight ships of
the line, under M. de Bompart, the army was left to its own
energies, and the marines returned to their respective ships.
As their numbers were much reduced, a detachment of troops
was added to their strength, and on the 13th of April the squa-
dron sailed for Prince Rupert's bay. On the 1st of May Gua-
daloupe capitulated, and the example was followed by Desirade,
Saintes, and Petite-terre ; and on the 26th of May, Marie-
galante likewise surrendered.

A fleet of twelve sail of the line, under M. de la Clue, sailed
from Toulon in the early part of August, and five of these, with
five frigates, soon afterwards separated. On the 18th, the
squadron fell in with a british fleet of fourteen sail of the line,
two of 50 guns, and several frigates, under admiral Boscawen,
who immediately made the signal to chase and engage in line
of battle a-head.

The advanced ships commenced firing upon the enemy at
2 h. 30 m. p. m., and closing with the Centaur of 74 guns, com-
pelled that ship to surrender, with the loss of 200 men killed
and wounded. The pursuit continued during the night, under
favour of which two of the enemy escaped, and at day-light
only four were to be seen, about five leagues distant from Lagos
bay. The Ocean of 80 guns, and Redoutable 74, ran on the
rocks, and were destroyed ; but the Temeraire 74, and Modeste
64, were brought away. M. de la Clue died of his wounds, and
was buried at Lagos. The British sustained a loss of 56 men
killed, and 196 wounded.

The fleet under sir Edward Hawke having taken refuge in
Torbay during the heavy westerly gales, admiral Conflans took
the earliest opportunity to put to sea with the french fleet, from
Brest. On the same day the british admiral sailed from Tor-

e 2

52 HAWKE DEFEATS CONFLANS.

bay, directing his course towards Quiberon, and on the 20th of
November the enemy's fleet was discovered by our look-out
ships. At this time it was blowing hard, with a heavy sea; and
although the shoals and rocks on the coast were imperfectly
known to the english pilots, sir Edward Hawke zealously per-
severed in his endeavours to bring the enemy to action. The
british fleet consisted of twenty-three ships of the line and ten
frigates ; that of the enemy, twenty-one of the line and five
frigates. At 3 h. 30 m. p. m., the van of the British began en-
gaging the enemy's rear, as their advanced ships led round the
Cardinal rocks.

About 4 p. m., the Formidable, bearing the flag of rear-
admiral Verger, after a gallant defence, struck her colours. The
Thesee foundered in consequence of shipping a heavy sea in her
lower deck, and the Superbe shared the same fate. The Heros
surrendered and came to anchor, but it was blowing so hard
that no boat could be sent to take possession. Darkness com-
ing on, the enemy fled towards their own coast; seven of their
line of battle ships, after throwing their guns overboard, got
into the river Vilaine, whilst the British anchored under the
island of Dumet. When morning appeared, the ship of the
french admiral was discovered to be on shore, and she was
soon afterwards burnt by her own crew. The Essex and Reso-
lution ran on the Four-reef and were wrecked, but most of
their crew were saved. Our total loss in this memorable battle
was no more than one lieutenant and 39 seamen and marines
killed, and 222 wounded.

In the East Indies the british arms were equally triumph-
ant. A french squadron of eleven ships of the line, under M.
d'Ache, appearing on the Coromandel coast, vice-admiral Po-
cock, with seven of the line, immediately proceeded thither;
and on the 2nd of September the french ships were discovered,
but it was not until the 10th that they were brought to action.
Although nothing decisive resulted from this contest, our loss

PREPARATIONS FOR INVADING ENGLAND. 53

amounted to no less than 118 killed, — 66 mortally, 122 dan-
gerously, and 263 slightly wounded. Among the killed was
17 captain C. Michie of the Newcastle, captain Gore and
lieutenant Redshaw of the marines, and lieutenant Elliott
of the Tyger.

Extensive preparations were now making in all the french
ports for the invasion of Great Britain, and several men-of-war,
transports, and flat-bottomed boats were getting ready in all
the ports. Havre-de-Grace, and the other harbours on the
coast of Normandy, prepared for the expedition against England,
whilst another division of the flotilla was to proceed from Dun-
kirk, and make an attempt on the coast of Scotland ; and a
third embarkation, destined for Ireland, was to be made at
Vannes, in Brittany, The duke D'Aiguillon had the com-
mand of the land forces, and a powerful squadron, under ad-
miral Conflans, was to secure their landing. To counteract
these machinations, admiral Havvke with a large fleet cruised
before Brest, leaving a detached force to watch the bay
of Audierne, and a squadron under commodore Boyce was
stationed before Dunkirk. In the month of July, rear-ad-
miral Rodney bombarded Havre with great success, setting
fire to the town in several places, and he destroyed all their
preparations for the invasion of England.

In this year, twenty-seven sail of the line and thirty-one
frigates were captured from the French, and eight ships of the
line and four frigates destroyed; whilst England, during the
various operations, lost no more than seven ships of the line
and five frigates. In addition to these reverses, the commerce
of France was seriously reduced by the loss of Quebec and
Guadaloupe.

In consideration of the signal services rendered by admirals
Boscawen and sir Charles Saunders, his Majesty instituted a
new establishment of marine officers, entitled " General and
Lieutenant-general of Marines ;" and shortly afterwards three
post-captains in the navy were selected for the rank of colonel.

54 MARINE SINECURES.

The following officers were the first who held those appoint-
ments : —

PER ANN.

Admiral Boscawen . . . General of Marines . £2000
Sir Chas. Saunders, K.B.. Lieut.- General . . . 1200
Sir Piercy Brett, Bart. . . Col. of Portsmouth Div. 800
Hon. Augustus Keppel. . Col. of Plymouth Div. 800
Viscount Howe .... Col. of Chatham Div. 800
The appointment of a major-general was subsequently added to
the establishment.

This arrangement, at once humiliating and disrespectful to a
corps which had ever supported its military character with
credit and honour, created universal dissatisfaction. It was a
wound that rankled at the very heart of the service ; and it con-
tinued to be so sensibly felt as a mark of reproach, that in 1777
the corps resolved to memorial the lords commissioners of the
Admiralty, respecting the injustice of placing officers of the
navy over them; and justly remarking upon the incompetency
of naval officers to take command of troops in the field. This
remonstrance was forwarded by colonel Mackenzie, with a
strong letter addressed to the earl of Sandwich ; but neither
that application, nor the many subsequent expressions of dis-
content, could obtain redress. The emoluments of these ap-
pointments continued to be enjoyed by naval officers until the
year 1833, when this degrading system of sinecures was abo-
lished ; but even then the entire advantage did not revert to
the corps, and but an inadequate proportion of the amount fell
to their lot in the distribution of the good-service pensions.

In this year the british navy amounted to one hundred and
twenty ships of the line : seventeen of that number were in the
East Indies, twenty for the protection of our West India islands,
twelve in North America, ten in the Mediterranean, and sixty-
one on the home station. The establishment of marines was
increased to one hundred and thirty companies, amounting to
18,365 men.

THUROT DEFEATED. 55

The french squadron under Thurot, which had sailed from
Dunkirk and taken refuge in the harbour of Gottenburg, in
Sweden, and which originally consisted of five frigates, having
on board 1200 soldiers, sailed from that port for Bergen; and
on the 5th of December, having parted company with one of
the squadron, they directed their course towards Ireland. It
was not until the 21st of February that Thurot effected a land-
ing at Carrickfergus with 600 men, and made the garrison under
colonel Jennings prisoners; but learning the defeat of the fleet
of Conflans, and finding that a body of regular troops was ap-
proaching, they re-embarked and immediately sailed for France.
A [ew hours after quitting the british coast, three ships were
seen bearing down upon them ; which were the english frigates
jEoIus 36, captain Elliott, with the Pallas and Brilliant of 32
guns, captains Clement and Logie. An action was maintained
with great spirit for an hour and a half, when the Marechal de
Belleisle, of 44 guns, was boarded and captured by the ^Eolus,
the gallant Thurot having fallen in the action. The other ships
were also captured, and taken into the English ports. The
British loss was only 5 killed, and 41 wounded; that of the
enemy 300 killed and wounded.

Shortly after the victory gained by colonel Coote over
general Lally at Wandewash, a squadron of six ships of the
line under rear-admiral Cornish, reached Madras ; and as the
french squadron under M. d'Ache" had not appeared on the
coast, the admiral was at liberty to assist in reducing the
french settlements. Colonel Coote with the army marched
to attack Waldour, and block up Pondicherry, whilst the
squadron proceeded to form the siege of Carical, where it ar-
rived on the 28th of March. At five in the morning major
Monson, with 300 marines and 50 pioneers, landed about four
miles from the place, and marching directly up to it, took pos-
session of the town early on the following day. Finding
themselves annoyed by the redoubt of Fort Dauphin, some
shells were thrown by the British, which induced the enemy

56 MARINES AT CARICAL.

immediately to abandon it, and retire to Fort Louis. Reinforce-
ments from Trichinopoly having arrived, the place was invested
on the 3rd, and the British erected several batteries. On the
5th, major Monson, learning that the garrison was likely to
obtain relief from Chilanbrun, summoned the commandant to
surrender: the proposition was acceded to, and the french
troops surrendered as prisoners of war. The marines, after
assisting at the reduction of two other posts, were re-embarked
in the early part of May.

Rear-admiral Stevens, having assumed the command of the
fleet, landed the marines at Cuddalore on the 29th of August,
and on the following day they joined the army. Colonel Coote
was superseded in his command by the promotion of major
Monson ; but the latter was so severely wounded, that colonel
Coote resumed his office, and continued to direct the operations
against Pondicherry until its surrender on 16th January, 1761.

A very gallant action between the Biddeford and Flambo-
rough of 20 guns, captains Skinner and Kennedy, and the
french frigates Malicieuse of 36, and Opale of 32 guns, was
fought on the 4 th of April near Oporto. The enemy, perceiving
the inferiority of the british ships, bore down upon them at
about seven in the evening, and a close action continued until
nine o'clock, when the enemy shot a-head. The firing was re-
newed as soon as the ships had repaired their rigging, and it
was maintained until eleven; when the french frigates made sail
and escaped, leaving the british ships so much disabled as to
be incapable of pursuit. The Biddeford had her captain and
8 men killed, her lieutenant and 25 wounded. After the death
of captain Skinner, lieutenant Knollis fought the ship until he
was mortally wounded, and the master gallantly continued the
action until the enemy made off. On board the Flamborough
lieutenant Price of the marines and 5 men were killed, and
10 wounded.

Rear-admiral Rodney continued very actively employed on
his station off Havre-de-Grace, keeping the enemy's coast in a

EXPEDITION UNDER COMMODORE KEPPEL. 57

constant state of alarm, and attacking their convoys whenever
they dared to venture out of their ports. Admiral Boscawen
was stationed with a strong squadron in the Bay of Biscay, and
so effectually blockaded the harbours of Brest and Rochefort,
that the French were unable to reinforce their possessions in
North America. Sir Edward Hawke, who relieved admiral
Boscawen in September, pursued the same plan of operations,
and maintained the proud pre-eminence of our naval power.
_ A secret expedition, commanded by major-general

Hodgson and commodore Keppel, consisting of twelve
battalions of infantry, two battalions of marines, and a train
of artillery, amounting to nearly 10,000 men, sailed from St.
Helen's on the 29th of March, escorted by ten ships of the line,
eight frigates, three bombs, and two fire-ships ; and this fleet
arrived in sight of Belleisle on the 6th of April. The island had
been put into the best state of defence, batteries were erected
at every position that afforded a practicable place for landing,
and a strong garrison occupied the citadel, under the command
of the chevalier de St. Croix. Early in the morning of the 7th,
the fleet passed the south end of the island so near the shore,
as to afford an opportunity of reconnoitring the coast and fix on
a proper quarter for landing. The ships anchored at noon in
the roads of Palais, and the principal officers of both services
proceeded to the northward, to make further observations ; but
they found the enemy so extremely on the alert and well pre-
pared at every point, that it was difficult to decide where a
landing could be effected without great risk and sacrifice of
lives. Early in the morning of the 8th, dispositions were made
for debarking the troops ; and the Dragon and Achilles, with
two bombs, sailed round to the bay of Port Andeo at the south-
east end of the island, followed by the commodore in the Prince
of Orange, with the troops in the flat-bottomed boats.

A battery, which opened upon them from the point at the
entrance, was soon silenced, and the boats pulled towards the
shore in three divisions, conducted by captain Barton of the

58 BELLEISLE ATTACKED.

navy. The enemy was posted on the sides of a steep hill, the
base of which was cut away to prevent the possibility of at-
tempting the works without scaling-ladders. The troops made
good their landing ; but all their efforts to ascend the hill prov-
ing unavailing, a retreat was the only alternative.

On this occasion generals Crawford and Carleton were con-
spicuous for the gallantry they displayed in leading their divi-
sions to the attack, and the latter was wounded in the thigh.
One of the boats landed at some distance from the rest, with
a company of grenadiers under captain Erskine ; who, from not
being supported, was driven back with great loss, after a deter-
mined resistance, in which their gallant leader lost his life.
The fire from the ships effectually covered the retreat of the
troops ; but the weather became so tempestuous, that the trans-
ports got foul of each other, and many boats were destroyed.
The loss sustained in this attack amounted to nearly 500 in
killed, wounded, and prisoners.

During these operations, a diversion was made by sir Thomas
Stanhope at Saucon, in order to draw the enemy's attention
from the main attack. This detachment consisted of the 96th
and 97th regiments, and the battalions of marines. As soon as
the weather became moderated, the utmost diligence was used
to repair the damages the fleet had sustained ; and a reinforce-
ment having arrived, it was determined to make another descent
at Fort d' Arsic, under the direction of major-general Crawford.
In order to second these operations, two separate attacks were
to be made ; the first by brigadier-general Lambert, near St.
Foy, and the other at Saucon by the force which had recently
arrived. Early on the morning of the 22nd, the ships of the line
took their stations to cover the landing; and having silenced
the batteries, the boats with the troops advanced in two divi-
sions, in close order, until abreast of their respective points of
attack. The enemy, supposing that Fort d' Arsic would be first
attempted, did not adopt measures for the defence of the stu-
pendous rocks, which offered such natural obstacles to the

MARINE BATTALIONS LANDED. 59

invaders. Brigadier Lambert's division, to which the battalions
of marines under colonel Mackenzie were attached, advanced
under this high coast ; and captain Patterson at the head of
the grenadiers of the 19th regiment, immediately supported by
captain Murray with a company of marines, climbed these
rocks unperceived by the enemy. Other troops soon followed
their intrepid example ; and reaching the summit, they formed
upon it, and were soon attacked by a regiment of infantry.
Contiguous to the ground occupied by our men, there was a
wall that offered an eligible post of defence ; whence the small
force of the British, by keeping up a steady fire, checked the
enemy, until they were reinforced by brigadier Lambert at the
head of the grenadiers of the 30th regiment, and the remainder
of the marines under colonel Mackenzie, who immediately
attacked the enemy, and drove them back to the top of the hill,
where they had some field-pieces. Captain Sir Thomas Stan-
hope, perceiving the successful efforts of this detachment, in-
stantly supported them with all the armed boats of his squadron:
at the same time the division of troops designed to attack Fort
d'Arsic, pushed on to unite with those under brigadier Lam-
bert ; who finding himself thus reinforced, moved up the hill,
drove the enemy back upon their main body, and captured three
field-pieces, with some prisoners.

Our loss did not exceed thirty men : captain Patteson of
Beauclerc's regiment, colonel Mackenzie and captain Murray
of the marines, were wounded. By five in the evening the
troops were all on shore ; and the army, after advancing three
miles into the country, took post on an eminence during the
night. In order to retard the march of the troops, the enemy
broke up the roads, destroyed the bridges, and after withdraw-
ing from the batteries along the coast, blew up their magazine.

Early on the 23d, general Hodgson moved the army towards
the town and citadel of Palais ; and although the French had
evinced an intention to dispute our progress, they fell back
without further resistance, and shut themselves up in the re-

60 SIEGE OF BELLEISLE.

doubts and citadel. The weather being very unfavourable for
landing the cannon, and the stores essential for the attack ol
the place, general St. Croix availed himself of the delay by
constructing six redoubts, which it would be necessary to pos-
sess before the approaches could be carried on against the
fortress. On the 2d of May our batteries opened, and their
effect was soon apparent. During the following night the
enemy made a sortie with 400 men, carried one of our advanced
works, and made general Crawford with his two aides-de-camp
prisoners. Following up their success, they advanced against
the trenches, which they attacked with much vigour; and the
contest remained doubtful until the arrival of a party of ma-
rines under captain David Hepburn, who drove them with the
bayonet, and forced them to retire with considerable loss. As
it was found necessary to carry one of the enemy's redoubts
which impeded the approaches, a heavy fire of shot and shells
was kept up during the night ; and on the morning of the 13th
a detachment of 200 men, composed of Loudon's regiment and
marines under captain Carruthers, advanced upon the enemy,
and after a sharp contest again drove them with the bayonet.
Observing the panic which ensued, captain Carruthers pushed
forward and took possession of two other redoubts, which the
French abandoned, and fled into the citadel. Major Nesbitt of
the 69th regiment, having reinforced our detachment with 370
men, they were soon masters of the whole of the redoubts, the
enemy abandoning them on the approach of our troops.

In this attack, major Nesbitt and nine men were wounded, and
four killed. The enemy suffered severely in killed and wounded,
and 100 men were taken prisoners. Following up these suc-
cesses, general Hodgson made a lodgment in the town, and
compelled the enemy to withdraw into the citadel, from which
all communication was cut off from the continent by the exer-
tions of the squadron : the place was now so closely invested,
that there was no longer a doubt of the surrender of the gar-
rison. Nevertheless, M. de St. Croix resolved to defend the

SURRENDER OF THE ISLAND. 61

place until the last, and his conduct throughout, reflected the
highest honour upon himself and the french arms.

By the 16th the batteries were completed, and the citadel
played upon by the unremitting discharge of 40 mortars, 10
howitzers, 1 0 thirty-two-pounders, 20 twenty-four-pounders, and
10 twelve-pounders; besides field-pieces to clear the enemy's
work by ricochet firing.

From this period until the 7th of June the approaches made
rapid progress, and a breach having been reported practicable,
preparations were making to storm, when M. de St. Croix pro-
posed to capitulate. Terms were agreed upon, and on the 8th
the citadel was taken possession of by the british troops : the
garrison marched out with the honours of war, and were con-
veyed to the nearest port in France. When the place was first
invested, their strength amounted to 2600 men, but it was now
reduced to 1678 ; by which it appears their loss was 922 men.
The british army consisted of 13,000 men, and of that number
1000 were marines. The loss sustained, between the 22nd
of April and the 7th of June, was 13 officers and 300 rank
and file killed ; 21 officers and 480 wounded : among the latter,
brigadier-general Howe. During the siege there were many
instances of intrepidity and courage deserving of notice : —

Captain Wright, having under him three companies of ma-
rines, held a post of great consequence, from which he received
orders to retreat ; but this gallant officer, knowing the impor-
tance of maintaining his position, took upon himself the re-
sponsibility of remaining, and by resolutely holding his ground
he repulsed the enemy. Another instance of the kind is recited
of lieutenant Lachlan Cuthbert, of the army, who had charge
of a battery, and though abandoned by his men, continued
firing the guns until supported ; and he then compelled the
enemy to retire with considerable loss. The following orders
were issued some time after the surrender of the island : " Ge-
neral Hodgson has the greatest pleasure to acquaint the officers
and soldiers under his command with his Majesty's satisfaction

62 MARINES OBTAIN ' THE LAUREL.'

in the spirit, patience, and cheerfulness with which they have
sustained the fatigues of this siege." Commodore Keppel, in
his public letter to the right-honourable Mr. Pitt, says, "Major-
general Hodgson, by his constant approbation of the battalion
of marines landed from the ships and put under his command,
gives me the pleasing satisfaction of acquainting you of it, that
his Majesty may be informed of the goodness and spirited be-
haviour of that corps."

At this period the marines wore caps similar to those of the
fusileer regiments ; and from that circumstance the French, in
describing the troops whose valour had been most conspicuous,
designated the battalions of marines " les petits grenadiers."
Their gallant conduct elicited the most flattering encomiums
from both commanders-in-chief; and the british government,
to commemorate their distinguished services during these ope-
rations, authorized the corps to adopt the proud emblem which
now encircles the globe emblazoned on the colours of the royal
marines.

A squadron of four ships of the line, under the command of
commodore sir James Douglas, sailed from Basseterre, Gua-
daloupe, on the 4th of June, having a division of troops on
board, commanded by Lord Rollo. They arrived at Roseau,
the capital of Dominica, on the 6th, and finding the inha-
bitants opposed to their landing, the ships anchored and si-
lenced the batteries. The troops then landed under cover of
the fire of the squadron, and formed in excellent order on the
beach, while a detachment moved forward and took possession
of the town. Lieutenant-Colonel Melvill, at the head of the
grenadiers, seized a flanking battery, which the enemy aban-
doned on his approach ; and following up his success, that
gallant officer led the troops in driving the enemy from all
their positions. The governor, M. Longprie, with the second
in command, were made prisoners, and the island submitted on
the following day.

On the 8th of January, the Unicorn of 32 guns, captain

UNICORN, SEAHORSE, AND RICHMOND. 63

Hunt, when cruising off the Penmanks, captured the Vestale of
32 guns, after an action of two hours, in which she had 5 killed
and 10 wounded ; among the latter, captain Hunt, mortally.
Captain Bois Bertelot, of the Vestale, was also mortally wound-
ed. First-lieutenant Charles Shearer, and second-lieutenant
Thomas Phillips, were on board the Unicorn.

The Seahorse of 20 guns, captain James Smith, when off the
Start, sustained a very spirited action on the 10th of January
with the french frigate Aigrette of 34 guns, which lasted an
hour and a half within pistol-shot. The Seahorse had 1 1 killed,
and 38 wounded. On the Unicorn making her appearance, the
french ship made sail and escaped. Lieutenant of marines,
Evan Cameron, was on board the Seahorse.

On the 30th of January the Venus 36 guns, captain Harrison,
and Juno 32, captain Philips, captured the french frigate
Brune, of 36 guns. The Venus was engaged with the enemy's
ship upwards of two hours, and had 4 men killed, and 18
wounded. On the Juno coming up and firing a few guns, the
Brune struck her colours; having 19 killed, and 39 wounded.
Lieutenant John Evins of the marines, was serving on board
the Venus.

On the 24th January the Richmond 32 guns, captain Elphin-
stone fell in with the french frigate Felicite of 32 guns, cap-
tain Donnel, off the Hague, and brought her to action. Both
ships took the ground, and continued to engage until the
enemy fled from their quarters, and escaped to the shore.
The Felicite had nearly 100 in killed and wounded ; among the
former, her captain. The Richmond, 3 killed, 13 wounded.
The Felicite was destroyed on the following day. The officers
of marines were first-lieutenant William Spann, and second-
lieutenant John McCulloch.

On the 23rd of January, the Minerva of 32 guns, captain
Alexander Hood, when off Cape Penas, captured the french
sixty-gun ship Warwick, (having only 34 mounted,) captain
Le Verger de Belais, after a gallant action of four hours.

64 CAPTURE OF THE COURAGEUX.

The Minerva lost her foremast and bowsprit, and her loss a-
mounted to 14 men killed, and 34 wounded. The enemy had
her fore and rnain-top masts shot away, and lost 14 men killed,
and 32 wounded. Shortly after the action, the other masts of
the Minerva went by the board.

On the 13th of March, the Vengeance of 26 guns, (nine and
four-pounders,) captain Nightingale, after an action of five
hours, captured the french 40-gun frigate Entreprenant, mount-
ing 26 guns, (twelve and nine-pounders,) with a loss of 5 killed
and 24 wounded. Second-lieutenant David Coutts was" serving
on board the Vengeance.

On the 13th of August, the Bellona 74 guns, captain Robert
Faulknor, and the Brilliant 36 guns, captain Loggie, off Vigo,
sustained an action with the french ships Courageux of 74 guns,
captain D. Lambert, and the Malicieuse and Hermione of 32
guns. After a contest, which lasted from twenty-five minutes
past six until seven in the morning, the Courageux surrender-
ed, with the loss of 200 killed, her captain mortally, and 110
wounded. The frigates made their escape as soon as they saw
the fate of their commodore ; but they had both been sharply
engaged with the Brilliant, which ship had 5 men killed, and
16 wounded. Captain James Sabine, and first-lieutenant Na-
thaniel English, were serving on board the Bellona, whose loss
amounted to no more than 6 men killed, and 25 wounded.

The prospect of a war with Spain roused the british
nation to make vigorous preparations; and the Parlia-
ment in November 1761, voted for the following year 70,000
seamen, including 19,061 marines, comprised in 135 companies.

The failure of the expedition against Martinique in 1759, did
not discourage the minister from making a further attempt for
the reduction of that colony, which still furnished a consi-
derable resource to the declining commerce of France. The
plan for prosecuting this important conquest had been laid
down by Mr. Pitt, and the succeeding administration main-
tained the same project. Eleven battalions having been ordered

ATTACK ON PIGEON ISLAND. 65

from New York, they sailed for Barbadoes the end of October
1761, under convoy of a squadron commanded by captain
Darby, of the Devonshire ; and in December, rear-admiral
Rodney, with several ships, united with this force. On the
14th four battalions arrived from Belieisle under brigadier
Rufane, and on the 24th the troops, commanded by general
Monckton and Lord Rollo, arrived in Carlisle bay. The ar-
mament now consisted of 14,000 land forces and a fleet of
16 ships of the line, with several frigates and 4 bombs.

On the 8th of January a division of the fleet silenced the
batteries in St. Anne's bay, and part of the army landed ; but
finding it impossible to reach Fort Royal from this spot, it was
determined to remove the ships with the army to St. Lucie, on
the opposite side of the island, thence march across the isthmus
to Gross Point, so as to be able to reach Pigeon Island, and
thus enable the ships to anchor on the east side of Fort Royal,
and assail the citadel ; but from the difficulty that presented
itself in transporting cannon and stores, the plan was relin-
quished. It was, however, determined to attempt the reduction
of Pigeon Island from the east side ; and the squadron hav-
ing silenced the batteries, two brigades of foot under generals
Haviland and Grant, and a corps of light infantry command-
ed by lieutenant-colonel Scott, landed at Ance d'Arlet, and
marched to the heights opposite Pigeon Island. On the 10th,
captain Harvey in the Dragon proceeded against Grand Ance,
and having silenced the battery, landed a few seamen with all
his marines, who carried the fort, and held it until relieved by a
battalion under lieutenant-colonel Melville. After destroying
the works in St. Anne's bay, the commanders of the expedition,
finding it difficult to extend the operations in that quarter, pro-
ceeded to Ance d'Arlet, and, uniting with brigadier-general
Haviland, they directed their course to the bay of Fort Royal,
where the fleet came to an anchor. Early in the morning of
the 16th, the ships moved to their respective stations, and
having silenced the batteries, the troops pushed for the shore,

VOL. I. F

66 MORNE TORTENSON CARRIED.

and made good their landing in Cas de Navieres bay. Early
on the 17th, the remainder of the army disembarked, together
with the marines, who were formed into two battalions of 450
men each, and attached to the brigade of general Rufane. The
army encamped upon the heights above Le Cas des Navieres,
and detachments were employed in throwing up works for pro-
tecting the passage of the troops through the intervening ravines,
in their advance upon the entrenchments at Morne Tortenson.

On the 24th, at day-break, the troops moved forward under
cover of the batteries, the grenadiers under brigadier-general
Grant taking the lead ; whilst brigadier Rufane on the right,
with his brigade and the marines, were ordered to attack the
redoubts along the sea-coast, supported by 1000 seamen in flat-
bottomed boats. Lord Rollo's brigade supported the grenadiers,
and general Walsh, with his force, assisted the movements of
lieutenant-colonel Scott with the light infantry in his endea-
vour to get round the flank of the enemy, which he effected,
whilst the grenadiers drove them from post to post until they
arrived upon their left flank, and the enemy was finally driven
from their position. By nine o'clock our troops were in pos-
session of the several redoubts on Morne Tortenson, the enemy
retiring in great confusion to Morne Gamier, a still higher hill,
and separated from Morne Tortenson by a deep ravine, which
post was strongly fortified, and considered to be of great im-
portance. General Haviland, with his brigade and two bat-
talions of Highlanders, with some light infantry under major
Leland, were directed to make a passage through the ravine,
and cut off a detached corps of the French. They soon drove
the enemy, and the light infantry possessed themselves of a post
opposite to Morne Gamier; while the division of grenadiers and
Walsh's brigade kept possession of an upper plantation, and
the marines, which general Monckton had taken from brigadier
Rufane, were posted to cover the road between the two
plantations,

On the 25th, the batteries on Morne Tortenson opened against

SURRENDER OF FORT ROYAL. 67

the citadel of Fort Royal ; and the tire from Morne Gamier was
so annoying, that it became expedient to attack this post. On
the 27th the enemy, in force, moved out under cover of their
batteries, and attacked the two corps of light infantry and
Haviland's brigade ; but they were received with firmness,
and repulsed. The ardour of the british troops led them to
pursue the enemy across the ravine, and seize their batteries,
where they took post, and were presently reinforced by the
brigade of general Walsh and the division of grenadiers under
brigadier Grant. Before nine that night, the light infantry under
major Leland were in possession of Morne Gamier, which com-
pletely commanded the citadel. On the 30th of January,
the batteries on Morne Tortenson were opened upon the ci-
tadel ; but finding that the distance was too great, it became
necessary to possess Morne Capuchin, which was within four
hundred yards of the place. Whilst preparations were making
to carry this into effect, the french garrison proposed to capi-
tulate, and terms having been agreed upon for the conveyance
of the troops to France, the garrison, consisting of 800 men,
marched out with the honours of war on the morning of the
5th of February. The governor-general, M. de la Touche, had
fallen back upon St. Pierre, with an intention of holding out,
but he soon surrendered ; and captain Harvey having landed
the marines from the squadron, with 500 seamen, in the har-
bour of Trinite, the whole island submitted to the british crown.
This conquest, which added so much lustre to our arms, was
obtained at the expense of 7 officers, 3 Serjeants, and 86 rank
and file killed ; and 32 officers, 20 Serjeants, and 337 rank and
file wounded ; while the loss of the enemy exceeded 1000 men.
The islands of St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Grenada, fell soon
after the surrender of Martinique, and by these acquisitions the
colonies of Antigua, St. Christopher's, and Nevis were secured
from any hostile intention of the enemy. Great Britain thus
became quietly possessed of that chain of islands, extending

68 TWO MARINE BATTALIONS LANDED.

from the eastern point of Hispaniola, almost to the continent of
South America.

An expedition, consisting of five ships of the line and fifty
transports, under admiral Pocock, for the reduction of the island
of Cuba, sailed from Spithead on the 5th of March, and arrived
at Barbadoes on the 20th of April, whence it proceeded to
Martinique, and on the 26th anchored in the bay of Cas de
Navieres. The army, after receiving reinforcements, was divi-
ded into five brigades, and the necessary arrangements being
completed, the expedition took its departure on the 6th of May.
Between that period and the 23rd, it was joined by the squa-
drons of captains Harvey and sir James Douglas ; and on the
27th the fleet, now amounting to 200 sail, bore away for the
old straits of Bahama, and arrived off the Havanna on the 6th
of June. At this time the garrison of the Havanna consisted of
4610 regular troops, 9000 sailors and marines of the twelve
ships of the line in the harbour, with 14,000 militia and people
of colour, forming a total of 20,610 men.

The army having effected a landing about six miles to the
eastward of the Moro without opposition, moved towards the
Havanna ; but a considerable force showing a disposition to
dispute the passage of the Coximar river, the fort was silenced
by the fire of the Dragon, and the troops passed unmolested.
During this time sir George Pocock made a feint with the
marines on the Havanna side, in order to divert the enemy's
attention. On the 10th the Belleisle, captain Knight, was or-
dered against the Chorera castle ; and on the following day
colonel Carleton carried the redoubt which defended the Ca-
vannos. On the 13th, colonel Home, with 300 light infantry,
and two battalions of marines under majors Campbell and
Collins, landed at the Chorera, to secure a footing and engage
the enemy's attention on that side.

Owing to the thinness of the soil upon the Cavannos, the
approaches against the Moro went on so slowly, that it was not

ATTACK ON THE MOKO CASTLE. 69

until the 29th that our batteries could open upon the Moro and
the shipping. In order to lessen the fire on the land side, the
admiral ordered captain Harvey, with the Dragon, Cambridge,
and Marlborough, to attack the Moro castle. On the 13th of
July they took their stations, and the cannonade was kept up
without intermission from eight in the morning until two in the
afternoon. The Cambridge was so much cut up, that it became
necessary to order her to withdraw : her captain, William
Goostrey, and 23 men were killed, and 95 wounded. The Dra-
gon was soon rendered incapable of keeping her station: her
loss amounted to 16 killed, and 37 wounded ; and the Marl-
borough had 2 killed, and 8 wounded. The Moro, from its
elevated situation on a steep rock, had great advantage over
the ships, and they also suffered from the galling fire of the
Punta, as well as the other batteries. Although this bold
attempt had little effect on the fortifications, it nevertheless
diverted the enemy's attention from our operations on the land
side ; but as soon as the cannonade ceased on board the ships,
the enemy returned our fire with increased vigour.

On the 2nd of July our batteries renewed the attack with
great success, but they were somewhat impeded by a fire break-
ing out, occasioned by the dryness of the fascines ; neverthe-
less, before the evening the enemy's batteries had suffered so
considerably, as to be only capable of making a return from two
guns. On the 3rd the fire broke out afresh, and continued
until the 5th, destroying in a few hours what the labours of five
or six hundred men had produced during seventeen days. This
misfortune was severely felt, for the hardships of the siege were
grown almost insupportable : sickness and fatigue had reduced
the army to half its original number ; and no less than 5000
soldiers and 3000 seamen were incapable of duty. The scar-
city of provisions and water aggravated all their other suffer-
ings, but the timely arrival of sir James Douglas on the 12th,
with reinforcements from Jamaica, and brigadier- general Bur-
ton on the 28th, with the first division of troops from North

70 SURRENDER OF HAVANNA.

America, re-animated the gallant fellows who had endured so
much privation and fatigue. On the 30th of July, about two
o'clock in the afternoon, two mines were sprung, and a breach
made in the bastion, which being deemed practicable, the troops,
led by lieutenant Charles Forbes of the Royals, ascended to
the assault with the greatest resolution, and soon drove the
enemy from every part of the ramparts. The Spanish governor,
don Louis de Velasco, exerted himself to the last in defending
the fortress, and in his endeavours to rally his men he was mor-
tally wounded. The loss of the enemy amounted to 130 killed;
400 threw down their arms, and were made prisoners. The
marquis Gonzales, second in command in the Moro, was killed
in his gallant though ineffectual efforts to defend his post.

The possession of this fort, after a hard struggle of forty-four
days, gave great satisfaction to the troops, who had so cheer-
fully borne the fatigues of this protracted siege, and whose
labours did not relax until the capitulation of the enemy on the
12th. The fortifications were mounted with 250 iron, and 104
brass ordnance, besides 12 mortars. Exclusive of the three
ships of the line sunk at the entrance of the harbour, there
were nine in an effective state, and two on the stocks.

In the distribution of prize-money for the capture of the
Havanna, the commander-in-chief received £122,697. 10s. 6d. ;
next in command, £24,539. 10s. \d.; major-gen., £68 16. 10s. 6d. ;
field-officer, £564. 14s. 6d; captain, £184. 4s. Id.; subaltern,
£116. 3s. ; whilst the private soldier had only £4. Is. 8c?. Total
amount, £368,092. lis. 6d.

A squadron, under M. de Ternay, of two ships of the line
and two frigates conveying 1500 infantry, which sailed from
Brest in the month of April to make an attempt on our settle-
ment at Newfoundland, reached their destination on the 24th
of June. The troops were landed in the bay of Bulls, and hav-
ing summoned the officer commanding Fort William, the chief
defence of St. John's, its feeble garrison surrendered. A de-
tachment was sent to take possession of Trinity and the island

CAPITULATION OF ST. JOHN'S. 71

of Carbonera, but their conquest extended no further; for cap-
tain Graves, who was then at Placentia, in the Antelope, imrae-
rnediately landed his marines, at the same time apprizing the
commanders at New York and Halifax of his situation, and
requesting their support.

Lord Colville soon arrived with some ships from Halifax, and
after disembarking his marines, as a further reinforcement, he
sailed in search of M. de Ternay ; but previously sent an officer
and thirty marines from the Syren, to the island of Boys, which
prevented it from falling into the enemy's hands. During this
period, the works of St. John's had been much strengthened by
the exertions of the french garrison, who took the precaution of
laying a boom across the entrance of the harbour, to prevent
any ship of force entering it. As soon as the intelligence of
the French being in possession of St. John's reached America,
general Amherst detached a force, which arrived on the coast
of Newfoundland on the 11th of September, and landed in two
battalions, under the direction of lieutenant-colonel Amherst,
who, after several days skirmishing with the out-posts of the
enemy, invested St. John's on the 16th; on which day the
dense fog that prevailed enabled M. de Ternay, with his
squadron, to steal out of the harbour unobserved. On the
17th, colonel Amherst opened a mortar battery against the fort,
and on the 18th the garrison of St. John's capitulated.

The expedition against the Philippine Islands, suggested by
colonel William Draper, was one of the boldest and most im-
portant of our successes during the war. The Spaniards in
this colony, confiding in their remote distance from Europe,
persuaded themselves that no attack would ever be deemed
practicable; and lulled by this security, they entirely neglected
keeping up a regular military force for their own protection.

The Philippines, or Manillas, form a principal division of that
immense Indian archipelago, which consists of above twelve
hundred islands, extending from the nineteenth degree of north
latitude, to the shores of New Guinea and the great southern

EXPEDITION TO MANILLA.

continent. The Philippines, which form the northern-most cluster
of these islands, are some of the largest and richest in the world,
and were most happily situated for commercial intercourse with
Asia and America ; receiving European goods by the way of the
Cape of Good Hope, and connecting the traffic of China, Japan,
and the Spice Islands with that of Europe and America. The
principal island is Manilla, or Luconia, which is three hundred
miles in length, and ninety in breadth. The capital is Manilla,
having a spacious harbour on the south-east of the island, where
the galleons used to arrive annually, and sail for Acapulco in
America, with treasure and valuable merchandise. On the de-
claration of the war with Spain, colonel Draper was despatched
to India in the Argo frigate, with instructions to take command
of the land forces to be employed against Manilla, having
rank of brigadier-general, and he arrived at Madras in the latter
part of June.

The troops consisted of the 79th regiment, a company of
artillery, 600 sepoys, and about 300 other native troops ; to
which were added 700 seamen, with 19 officers and 319 rank
and file of marines, forming a total of 2330 men. The squadron
under vice-admiral Cornish, consisting of eight ships of the line
and three frigates, with two large transports conveying this
force, sailed on the 12th of August, arrived at Malacca on
the 19th, quitted that place on the 27th, and arrived at
Manilla harbour on the 23rd of September. After an ineffec-
tual summons, preparations were made for the debarkation of
the troops ; and about six in the evening of the 24th the boats,
in three divisions under the direction of captains Parker, Kemp-
enfelt, and Brereton, pulled for the shore, covered by the fire of
the frigates, which dispersed the enemy that had assembled on
the beach. The violence of the surf destroyed many of the
boats, and damaged the ammunition, but no lives were lost;
and the troops, having formed upon the beach, moved forward
and took possession of the village of Malata, distant about a
mile from the enemy's works.

EXEMPLARY CONDUCT OF THE MARINES. 73

On the 25th a detachment occupied the fort of Pulverista,
which the Spaniards had abandoned; whilst colonel Monson
pushed forward with 200 men, and possessed himself of the
church of Hermita, situated near the city. This post was of
much consequence, both from its strength and the shelter it
afforded from the heavy rains that had already set in, and the
79th regiment, under major Moore, was therefore ordered to
reinforce it. The seamen were indefatigable in their exertions
in landing the stores and artillery through the dangerous surf,
in which lieutenant Hardwick was unfortunately drowned.

The marines were left at the Malata, in the neighbourhood of
the Pulveiista, preserving a communication with the advanced
forces ; at the same time, whilst securing a retreat, they pro-
tected the stores and artillery, and, to use the words of colonel
Draper, " the men, from the good conduct and example of their
officers, behaved very well, and were of great use upon all oc-
casions." The battalion of seamen was stationed between the
79th regiment and the marines ; a detachment advancing within
three hundred yards of the town, who maintained themselves
in the church of St. J ago. On the 26th of September the
Spaniards made a sally from the garrison ; and 400 men under
chevalier de la Fayette, having with them two field-pieces,
with which they occupied a church on the right of the British,
then commenced a cannonade upon their flank; but colonel
Monson with the picquets, reinforced by a small party of sea-
men, attacked them so sharply that they were driven back into
the town, and their retreat was so precipitate that they left one
of their guns on the glacis. A summons was sent to the
governor; but he returned a spirited answer, expressive of his
determination to defend his trust as became him. Had the
valour of the garrison corresponded with the declaration of
their leader, the town would have had nothing to apprehend
from an enemy, whose operations, from their inferiority of num-
bers, were confined to one corner of the place, leaving two-thirds
of it open to all manner of supplies. The front attacked was

74 enemy's sortie repulsed.

defended by the bastions of St. Diego and St. Andrew, with a
ravelin which covered the royal gate ; and there was a wet ditch,
covered way, and glacis. These bastions were in good order,
mounting a great number of brass cannon ; but the ravelin was
not armed, and the covered way out of repair ; the ditch did not
extend round the bastion of St. Diego, and the glacis was much
too low.

By great exertions three batteries were raised, which opened
on the town with some effect; and on the 29th the Elizabeth
and Falmouth took positions as near as the depth of water
would permit, to second the operations of the army by enfilad-
ing the enemy's front.

On the 1st of October the weather grew so tempestuous, that
the whole squadron was in great danger, and all communi-
cation was cut off with the army ; but notwithstanding the
heavy rains, the troops and seamen continued their exertions
so effectually in completing the battery for the twenty-four
pounders and a mortar, that all the guns were mounted by the
2nd. On the 3rd a fire was opened upon the left face of St.
Diego's bastion with such effect, that in a few hours the twelve
pieces of cannon on it were silenced, and the enemy compelled
to retire. The Spaniards, finding that their fortifications were
no longer tenable, projected a sortie, and before day-light on
the 4th a 1000 Indians, armed with bows and arrows, and lances,
attacked the cantonment of the seamen with great fury; but they
were met with such determined firmness, that on the arrival of
a reinforcement of the 79th regiment, the enemy was driven back
with the loss of 300 men. A second attack was made by ano-
ther body of Indians, supported by a strong detachment of the
Spanish garrison, who attacked the church of St. Jago and
drove the sepoys; but the European troops maintained their
post with great firmness, and at length defeated the assailants.
This was the enemy's last effort : only 1800 of the Indians con-
tinued their assistance to the besieged, the remainder returning
to their homes. Our batteries kept up their fire with renewed

SURRENDER OF MANILLA. 75

spirit, which was but weakly retained from three or four em-
brasures in the curtain, and before night these defences were
in ruins.

A little after day-break on the 6th, the different corps had
taken their stations for storming the place, and under cover of
our artillery they rushed on to the assault. Lieutenant Russell
of the 79th, with 60 volunteers, led the way, supported by the
grenadiers of that regiment. Next to the pioneers came the
battalion of seamen, sustained by two grand divisions of the
79th regiment, and the troops of the East India Company
formed the rear. Thus disposed, the assailants, to the number
of 2000 men, mounted the breach with great rapidity ; the
enemy giving way, and offering no opposition until they arrived
at the gate of the town, where a resistance was made by 100
men, who were all put to the sword. The governor, with his
officers, retired to the citadel, but were glad to surrender at
discretion, as that place was incapable of defence. The port of
Cavite, and the other dependencies of Manilla, were surrender-
ed to the British, and captain Champion, with 100 marines and
as many sepoys, was ordered to take possession of the citadel.

Throughout the whole of these operations the greatest cor-
diality prevailed between the two services, and no conjunct
expedition was ever conducted with more resolution and profes-
sional skill, than the conquest of the Philippine islands. The
loss sustained during the siege was less than could have been
expected from the nature of the service. It amounted to one
naval officer, and three of the army killed ; one Company's offi-
cer drowned ; 13 seamen and marines, 75 soldiers killed, and 6
wounded ; 1 officer of the navy, 3 officers of the troops, 20 sailors
or marines, and 87 soldiers wounded: lieutenant Spearing of the
marines among the latter. Commodore Siddeman, in attempt-
ing to enter the river in his barge on the morning after the
capitulation of Manilla, was unfortunately drowned, with five of
his people.

Brigadier-general Draper was made a knight of the Bath,

LIEUT. CAMPBELL AT AVILES.

admiral Cornish created a baronet of Great Britain, and the
thanks of Parliament were voted to those officers and their sub-
ordinates who were concerned in the conquest of Manilla.

On the 21st of May, the Active and Favourite sloops, cruising
off Cadiz, captured the Spanish treasure-ship Hermione, from
Lima, with a cargo which, with the value of the ship, amounted
to £544,648. Is. 6d. ; the share of the treasure gave the cap-
tains each £65,053. 13s. 9cL; lieutenants, £39,014. 2s. 3d.; and
a private marine, £484. 2s. 5d.

On the 29th of August, the iEolus of 32 guns, captain Hot-
ham, chased two ships into Aviles bay, near Cape Penas, and
on the 2nd of September stood in to attack them. On rounding
the point, the largest ship, mounting 32 guns, opened her fire,
supported by a battery of three guns, situated on an eminence
within the point. At 3 p.m., the iEolus anchored with a spring
on her cable, and directing her fire both on the ship and battery,
soon drove them from their guns : the crew, taking to their boats,
abandoned the ship, which having ran aground, was destroyed.
The battery continuing to annoy the frigate, lieutenant Camp-
bell with his party of marines landed, drove out the enemy and
spiked the guns. The other ship having removed higher up the
bay in shoal water, captain Hotham stood out from the anchor-
age without sustaining any loss.

We have not space to relate the various naval exploits of
1762, in the course of which year the British captured upwards
of one hundred and twenty considerable prizes, and this success
gave frequent occasions for the display of our professional supe-
riority. Since Spain had undertaken this fatal war, she had lost
twelve ships of the line, besides frigates. Eighteen of the line
and thirty-six frigates were captured from the French, and four-
teen ships of the line and thirteen frigates destroyed. On the
other hand, two british frigates were captured by the French,
and three destroyed by the enemy ; whilst thirteen sail of the
line, with fourteen frigates, were accidentally lost; but no
english ship of the line fell into the enemy's hands.

PEACE ESTABLISHMENT. 77

During this memorable war, the marines took part in every
exploit of honour and danger, and they served in every naval
action, except the drawn battle of Minorca. On all occasions
their discipline and firmness was a subject of the highest com-
mendation, and they never failed to maintain a subordination
worthy of imitation.

The preliminaries' of peace, which were signed on the 3rd of
November, and ratified in February of the following year,
closed the services of the marines for a long period ; and a very
considerable reduction took place, for in 1763 only 16,000 men
were voted for the sea service, including 4287 marines. This
circumscribed establishment produced so much discontent in
the corps, that it gave rise to numerous memorials to the Board
of Admiralty ; but those remonstrances met with so little suc-
cess, that many officers were induced to quit the service and
enter the army, where some obtained the highest rank.

In 1770 affairs of a very serious aspect called the attention of
the british government to the disturbed state of her american
colonies, in consequence of a real or pretended right on the part
of Great Britain to impose internal taxes. The stamp-act was
so exceedingly unpopular, that its repeal was absolutely neces-
sary to appease the people ; and the tax on tea imported into
America was so obnoxious, that every means of opposition to
the measure was resorted to.

In October, ships laden with tea having arrived at
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Charlestown, and Rhode
Island, conveying altogether 2200 chests, the people assembled
at different places to concert measures that would prevent the
importation, and to compel the consignees, at the risk of their
lives and property, to relinquish their employments. In these
assemblies, resolutions were passed derogatory to the legisla-
tive power of Great Britain; and on the 18th of December a
number of armed men, under the disguise of Mohawk Indians,
boarded the ships, and threw their valuable cargoes into the
sea ; but at New York the tea was landed under the protection
of the men-of-war.

78 DISTURBANCES IN AMERICA.

. On the 7th of March, his Majesty sent a message to

Parliament, requiring immediate measures for securing
the execution of the laws, and just dependence of the colonies
upon the crown of Great Britain. The minister at the same
time introduced a hill to take away from Boston the privilege
of a port, as a punishment for their refractory conduct : rein-
forcements were sent thither, and general Gage was appointed
governor of the colony. This restriction on of the inhabitants of
Boston raised a spirit of rebellion throughout the continent of
America ; all were agreed in resisting the collection of any in-
ternal tax not imposed by their own assemblies, and to sus-
pend all commercial intercourse with the mother-country until
their grievances were fully redressed. Deputies were soon af-
terwards appointed from each province to attend a general con-
gress at Philadelphia, which assembled on the 5th of Septem-
ber, 1774. Among their first resolutions they acknowledged
their dependence, but insisted on their privileges; consenting to
those acts of the british legislature which regulated their exter-
nal commerce, yet insisting, that according to the english con-
stitution, the people had a right to participate in their legisla-
tive council ; and as the colonies, from various causes, could not
be represented in the british Parliament, they were entitled to a
free and exclusive legislation in their respective provincial as-
semblies, in all cases of taxation and internal policy. They
recommended to the several provinces the establishment of a
national militia, and to raise money for paying those who should
bravely hazard their lives in defence of the privileges of Ame-
rica.

In the latter part of 1774 the Americans were making great
preparations for resistance ; and they scrupled not to declare
their intention of attacking Boston when the ice became
strong enough to bear them; but as it did not freeze sufficiently
hard during the winter, the disaffected postponed their plans
until the spring of 1775.

To prevent being taken by surprise, the neck of land which

THE REBELS ARE FIRED UPON. 79

leads into Boston from Roxbury, was carefully fortified by the
British and admiral Graves, by placing the Somerset in the
ferry-way between the two towns, overawed the inhabitants
of Charlestown, and prevented any attack from that side. The
fleet under vice-admiral Graves, consisting of four sail of the
line and a great many smaller vessels, was greatly dispersed,
but so disposed as to afford all the protection possible to his
Majesty's loyal subjects in the colonies.

General Gage, on receiving intelligence that a quantity of
military stores had been collected at Concord for supplying the
rebel troops, ordered a detachment, consisting of the grenadiers
and light infantry of the army, under lieutenant-colonel Smith
of the 10th regiment, and major Pitcairne of the marines, to be
embarked in the boats of the squadron ; and on the evening of
the 18th of April, they were conveyed up Charles river, and
landed at Phipp's farm, whence they advanced with rapidity
towards Concord ; but the country had been apprized of their
intention, and before the break of day the inhabitants were as-
sembled in arms.

Lieutenant-colonel Smith detached major Pitcairne, with six
companies of light infantry, to secure two bridges on different
roads beyond Concord. On their arrival within two miles of
Lexington at four o'clock in the morning of the 19th, the major
received intelligence that a body of 500 armed men were assem-
bled, and determined to oppose the king's troops ; but when
they came within a short distance of the Americans, the latter
filed off towards some stone walls on the right. Major Pit-
cairne then called to them to disperse, and on attempting to
surround and disarm them, they fired upon our troops; upon
which the light infantry, without being ordered, fired and killed
several of the country people. Shortly after this occurrence,
lieutenant-colonel Smith, with the troops under his command,
joined major Pitcairne, and the whole force reached Concord
at nine in the evening. Captain Parsons was detached with six
companies of light infantry to secure a bridge at some distance

FURTHER HOSTILITIES.

from this place, which was guarded by three of these com-
panies, whilst the remainder destroyed all the military stores in
the neighbourhood.

The alarm had now extended, and general Gage, learning
how the troops had been opposed, sent a reinforcement of
eight companies of the 4th, and the same number of the 23rd
and 49th regiments, with some marines and two field-pieces,
under the command of the earl of Percy. This was a for-
tunate circumstance, for no sooner had the detachment under
lieutenant-colonel Smith begun their march from Concord to
Lexington, than they were assailed by a heavy fire from all
sides, which continued without intermission until they met
the detachment of the earl of Percy. The fire from the field-
pieces at first checked the Americans, but their increasing num-
bers hung upon the rear of the english force until they reached
Charlestown. On this occasion 1 lieutenant and 64 rank and
file were killed ; 2 lieutenant-colonels, 2 captains, 9 lieutenants,
and 165 wounded ; and a lieutenant with 27 men missing.

The marines of the squadron under lieutenant- colonel John-
stone were landed, to assist and cover the retreat of the de-
tachment, who under protection of this assistance, and the
commanding station of the Somerset, passed over to Boston
without further molestation. Exaggerated accounts of the
affair at Lexington were eagerly carried to every province, which
so encouraged the spirit of resistance to his Majesty's autho-
rity, that it produced a determination not to supply the ships
and troops with stores or provisions. All communication by
land being stopped by the rebels, two vessels were employed to
convey despatches to New York and Halifax. The Americans
continuing to increase in numbers, they attacked Noddle's
Island, and drove off the cattle, after destroying the buildings
of every description.

The congress having resolved to form an army of 30,000
men, issued regulations for raising and maintaining this force.
On the 24th of May a reinforcement arrived at Boston from

FORMED INTO TWO BATTALIONS. 81

Ireland; and on the 26th, major-generals Howe, Clinton, and
Burgoyne in the Cerberus from England.

The following is an extract from the marine-battalion orders
of the 20th of May, 1775 :—

"The right-honourable the lords commissioners of the Ad-
miralty, having directed a reinforcement of marines to serve
under major Pitcairne in general Gage's army, consisting of
2 majors, 10 captains, 27 subalterns, 2 adjutants, 1 surgeon,
2 assistant-surgeons, 28 Serjeants, 25 corporals, 20 drummers,
600 privates, the commanding officer deems it necessary, for
the good of the service, to form the whole under his command
into two battalions : —

Officers in 1st battalion. Officers in 2nd battalion.

GRENADIERS.

Thomas Avarne, capt. George Logan.

William Finney, 1st lieut. Alexander Brisbane.

George Vevers, 1st lieut. Francis Gardner.

FIRST COMPANY.

Stawel Chudleigh, capt. , Hon. John Maitland, capt.
Richard Shea, 1st lieut. Jesse Adair, 1st lieut.
Hewes, 1st lieut. Roland Carter, 1st lieut.

SECOND COMPANY.

Stephen Ellis, capt. Charles Chandless, capt.

James Robertson, 1st lieut. Fenton Griffiths, 1st lieut.

P. D. Robertson, 2nd lieut. Henry D'Oyley, 2nd lieut.

THIRD COMPANY.

Thomas Lindsay, capt. Thomas Groves, capt.

William Lycett, 1st lieut. John Hadden, 1st lieut.

David Collins, 2nd lieut. Titus Conyers, 1st lieut.

FOURTH COMPANY.

William Forster, capt. Samuel Davys, capt.

William Graham, 1st lieut. Walter Nugent, 1st lieut.

Isaac Potter, 2nd lieut. Robert Carey, 2nd lieut.

VOL. I. g

82 TWO MARINE BATTALIONS.

FIFTH COMPANY.

Robert Ross, capt. Edward Henvill, capt.

Charles Steward, 1st lieut. Thomas Biggs, 1st lieut.

Jonas Mathews, 1st lieut. James Lewis, 2nd lieut.

SIXTH COMPANY.

William Sabine, capt. George Elliott, capt.

B. M'Donald, 2nd lieut. Alex. M'Donald, 1st lieut.

Henry Tantum, 2nd lieut. John France, 1st lieut.

SEVENTH COMPANY.

J. H. Branson, capt. Archer Walker, capt.

William Creswell, 1st lieut. James Anderson, 1st lieut.

Thomas Trollope, 2nd lieut. Robert Moore, 2nd lieut.

EIGHTH COMPANY.

John Perceval, capt. John M'Fie, capt.

Aaron Eustace, 1st lieut. SirJ.Dalston,bart.,lstlieut.

Thos. Woodcock, 2nd lieut. Francis Dogherty, 1st lieut.

LIGHT INFANTRY.

W. Souter, capt. Archibald Campbell, capt.

William Pitcairne, 1st lieut. John Dyer, 2nd lieut.

Philip Howe, 2d lieut. N. H. Nicholas, 2nd lieut.

ADJUTANT.

John Waller, 1st lieut. John Fielding, 1st. lieut.

QUARTER-MASTER.

J. Pitcairne, 1st lieut. Thomas Smith, 1st lieut.

Captain David Johnston, superintendent, adjutant, and de-
puty-paymaster to the 2nd battalion.

— Hill, surgeon to the 2nd battalion ; William Tervant and
— Silven, surgeon's mates.

The following regulations for the payment of companies were
notified in the battalion- orders of the 3rd of June :

" The right-honourable the lords commissioners of the Ad-
miralty having directed, by their letter to major Pitcairne of the
2nd of March last, that the captain of marines commanding

PAYMENT OF COMPANY. 83

companies on shore at Boston should pay their companies in
the same manner as practised by the land forces, the captains
or commanding officers of companies will receive from captain
Johnstone, deputy-paymaster, one month's subsistence for the
non-commissioned officers and private men of their respective
companies, deducting Is. b\d. per week each for provisions and
the usual stoppages, as directed by the Admiralty, viz : —

s. d.
For one serjeant, per week .... 0 2

For one corporal or drummer . . . 0 \\

For one private man 0 1

Dollars to be taken at 4 8

Captains are to give the deputy-paymaster complete monthly
pay-rolls, accounting for the subsistence distributed to their
companies, and specifying every particular casualty that has
happened in each company during the preceding month, and to
commence this day."

CHAPTER III.

From the year 1775 to 1783.

, On the 8th of June the American congress resolved,

1 75

" That the compact between the crown and the people

of Massachusetts bay is dissolved." A proclamation was issued
by general Gage establishing martial law, and offering pardon
to all who should return to their allegiance excepting Samuel
Adams and John Handcock. Matters were thus fast approach-
ing to a crisis, and both parties prepared in right earnest for
the struggle.

At this moment, the town of Charlestown was not occupied
by either party ; and the rebels, anticipating the movement of
the king's troops, sent a large body of men on the 16th of June
to erect works upon Bunker's-hill, and during the night they
raised entrenchments, and constructed a formidable redoubt.
On the 17th at day-break the garrison of Boston was alarmed by
a heavy cannonade from his Majesty's ship Lively, directed
against the working-party on the hill ; but as the Americans
persevered in their labours with great firmness, general Gage
considered it highly necessary to dislodge them from so impor-
tant a position, and therefore resolved on an immediate attack.

The Lively, Falcon, and Spitfire, having anchored abreast of
and below Charlestown for covering the landing of the troops,
at nine in the morning the Glasgow, lying off Newpoint, and a
battery of six guns and some howitzers, opened upon the
rebels ; but they perseveringly continued their work, nothing
daunted by the heavy fire which was poured upon them. The
Americans on the heights were in great force, and strongly

BUNKERS HILL. g5

posted in a redoubt, besides other works, on which they had
mounted cannon. In the houses of Charlestown, which covered
their right flank, they had also posted a large body of troops,
while their centre and left flank were protected by a breast-
work partly cannon proof; and these works reached from the
left of the redoubt to the Mystic, or Medford, river. Ten com-
panies of grenadiers and ten of light infantry, with the 5th, 38th,
43rd, and 52nd regiments under maj or-general Howe and briga-
dier-general Pigot, were embarked with great expedition, a&nd
landed about noon on Charlestown Point, under the protection
of the ships of war, whose well-directed fire kept the insurgents
within their works. The troops formed in perfect order, the
light infantry under brigadier Pigot posted on the right, and the
grenadiers on the left; in rear of these the 5th and 38th regi-
ments, and the 43rd and 52nd in a third line.

Major-general Howe, on examining the state of the enemy's
defences, and observing fresh columns pouring in to their as-
sistance, solicited a reinforcement, which soon joined him, con-
sisting of some companies of grenadiers and light infantry, the
47th regiment, and the battalions of marines, who were led by
majors Pitcairne, Tupper, and Short. The major-general then
formed the corps under his command into two lines, and imme-
diately advanced towards the enemy's works. About half-past
three o'clock a smart fire was opened from the field-pieces and
howitzers of the British as the troops slowly advanced, and oc-
casionally halting to allow the artillery to fire with greater
effect. The light infantry was directed to force the left point
of the breast-work, and take the enemy in flank; whilst the
grenadiers were to attack in front, supported by the 5th and
52nd regiments. Not a shot was returned by the enemy until
our troops were close upon them, when they opened a destruc-
tive fire, which was so well maintained, that it somewhat stag-
gered the assailants. For some time the British withstood this
opposition, but their loss of officers and men was so great, that
they recoiled a little and fell into disorder, until the animating

86 SEVERE LOSS SUSTAINED.

presence of general Howe restored confidence, when the soldiers
rallied, and again advanced upon the enemy.

At this time the left wing, from being much exposed to the
enemy's fire from the houses of Charlestown, sustained con-
siderable loss ; orders were therefore sent to destroy the
place, which was speedily effected by red-hot shot from the
ships, and by Cape's-hill battery throwing carcasses. General
Howe now renewed his attack, and overcoming the various
impediments thrown in their way, the british soldiers rushed
into the entrenchments with the bayonet, and drove the gallant
enemy from every part of the works across the peninsula, leav-
ing five pieces of cannon in our possession. At the commence-
ment of the action the rebels had above 5000 men, and their
loss must have been considerable ; but only 30 of the killed re-
mained in the redoubt. In this hardly-earned victory, the loss
on the part of the British amounted to 1 lieutenant-colonel, 2
majors, 7 captains, 9 lieutenants, 15 Serjeants, one drummer,
and 191 rank and file killed; 3 majors, 27 captains, 32 lieute-
nants, 8 ensigns, and 758 privates wounded, — making a total of
1054 in killed and wounded.

The marine battalions sustained more than its proportionate
share of casualties : —

First battalion ; major Short, captain Stephen Ellis, lieutenants
Richard Shea and William Finnie, and 17 men killed; major
Pitcairne, mortally, captains Thomas Avarne, Stawel Chudleigh,
and David Johnstone, lieutenant Ragg, and 57 men wounded.

Second battalion ; captain Archibald Campbell, lieutenant
Francis Gardiner, and 5 men killed; captain George Logan, lieu-
tenants John Dyer, Alexander Brisbane, and 30 men wounded.

The reputation of the marines was never more nobly sus-
tained than in this sanguinary contest. Their unshaken firm-
ness was conspicuous, and the valour they displayed in closing
with the enemy when some part of the attacking column wa-
vered, gained them, not only the admiration of their comrades,
but the commendation of their distinguished chief.

INTERESTING LETTER. $7

General Orders, \Qth June, 1775.
" The commander-in-chief returns his most grateful thanks to
major-general Howe for the extraordinary exertion of his military
abilities on the 17th instant. He returns his thanks also to
major-general Clinton, and brigadier Pigot, for the share they
took in the success of the day, as well as to lieutenant-colonels
Nesbitt, Abercromby, Gunning, and Clarke; majors Butler,
Williams, Bruce, Tupper, Spenlove, Small, and Mitchel, and
the rest of the officers and soldiers ; who by remarkable efforts
of courage and gallantry overcame every disadvantage, and
drove the rebels from the redoubt and strong-holds on the
heights of Charlestown, and gained a complete victory."

The following interesting letter is from lieutenant J . Waller,
adjutant of the first marine battalion, dated, " Camp of Charles-
town Heights, 22nd of June, 1775 :—

" My dear Brother,

" Amidst the hurry and confusion of a camp hastily
pitched in the field of battle, I am sat down to tell you I have
escaped unhurt, where many, very many, have fallen. The
public papers will inform you of the situation of the ground
and the redoubt that we attacked on the heights of Charles-
town. I can only say that it was a most desperate and daring
attempt, and it was performed with as much gallantry and
spirit as was ever shown by any troops in any age.

"Two companies of the first battalion of marines, and part of
the 47th regiment, were the first that mounted the breast-work :
and you will not be displeased when I tell.you that I was with
those two companies, who drove their bayonets into all that op-
posed them. Nothing could be more shocking than the carnage
that followed the storming this work. We tumbled over the
dead to get at the living, who were crowding out of the gorge
of the redoubt, in order to form under the defences which they
had prepared to cover their retreat. In these breast-works they
had artillery, which did so much mischief; but these they were

88 LETTER OF LIEUTENANT WALLER.

obliged to abandon, being followed closely by the light infantry,
who suffered exceedingly in the pursuit. The rebels had 5000
to 7000 men, covered by a redoubt, breast-works, walls, hedges,
trees, and the like ; and the number of the corps under general
Howe, (who performed this gallant business,) did not amount to
1500. We gained a complete victory, and entrenched ourselves
that night, where we lay under arms, in the front of the field of
battle. We lay the next night on the ground, and the following-
day encamped. The officers have not their marquees, but are
obliged to lie in soldiers' tents, they being more portable in case
of our advancing.

" We had of our corps one major, 2 captains, and 3 lieutenants
killed ; 4 captains, and 3 lieutenants wounded : 2 Serjeants, and
21 rank and file killed ; and 3 Serjeants and 79 privates wound-
ed : and I suppose, upon the whole, we lost, killed and wounded,
from 800 to 1000 men. We killed a number of the rebels, but
the cover they fought under made their loss less considerable
than it would otherwise have been. The army is in great spirits,
and full of rage and ferocity at the rebellious rascals, who both
poisoned and chewed the musket balls, in order to make them
the more fatal. Many officers have died of their wounds, and
others very ill : 'tis astonishing what a number of officers were
hit on this occasion ; but the officers were particularly aimed at.

" I will just give you a short account of the part of the action
where I was particularly concerned. We landed close under
Charlestown, and formed with the 47th regiment close under
the natural defences of the redoubt, which we drove the enemy
from, climbing ove* rails and hedges. So we closed upon
them ; but when we came immediately under the work, we were
checked by the severe fire of the enemy, but did not retreat an
inch. We were now in confusion, after being broke several times
in getting over the rails, &c. I did all I could to form the two
companies on our right, which at last I effected, losing many of
them while it was performing. Major Pitcairne was killed close
by me, with a captain and a subaltern; also a Serjeant, and

his majesty's thanks. 89

many of the privates ; and had we stopped there much longer,
the enemy would have picked us all off. I saw this, and
begged colonel Nesbitt of the 47th to form on our left, in order
that we might advance with our bayonets to the parapet. I ran
from right to left, and stopped our men from firing ; while this
was doing, and when we had got in tolerable order, we rushed on,
leaped the ditch, and climbed the parapet, under a most sore and
heavy fire. Colonel Nesbitt has spoken very favourably of my
conduct, and both our majors have mentioned me to lord Sand-
wich in consequence of it. One captain and one subaltern fell
in getting up, and one captain and one subaltern was wounded
of our corps : three captains of the 52nd were killed on the pa-
rapet, and others that I know nothing of. God bless you ! I
did not think, at one time, that I should ever have been able to
write this, though in the heat of the action I thought nothing
of the matter. Adieu, dear Jacob, your's,

" J. WALLER."

The provincials constructed works on an eminence on the
continental side of the Charlestown-neck, directly opposite to
the british troops on Bunker's-hill, and by their frequent nightly
incursions on the different islands, where the live-stock for the
British was kept, they added much to the distress of the army.
In one of those daring enterprises they burnt the light-houses
at the entrance of Boston harbour ; and when the principal one
was under repair, protected by a detachment of marines, they
surprised the party, and carried them all off to the continent.

In the orders of the 27 th of September, the royal thanks were
tendered to the forces in the following terms : " The King has
been pleased to order the commander-in-chief to express his
Majesty's thanks, both to the officers and soldiers, for the re-
solution and gallantry with which they attacked and defeated
the rebels on the 17th of June last, who had every advantage
of numbers and situation ; and more especially to express to
generals Howe and Clinton, and to brigadier-general Pigot, the

90 PROMOTION IN THE BATTALION.

sense his Majesty entertains of the spirit, resolution, and con-
duct by which they distinguished themselves, to their honour,
upon that day."

The battalion-orders of that day also contained a notification
that, the King had been pleased to make the following promo-
tions in his marine forces serving in North America : —

Captain W. Souter to be major, vice Short, killed in action.

Capt.-lieut. Fras. Lindsay to be captain, v. Campbell, ditto.

„ Robt. Ross to be captain, v. Ellis, ditto.

„ David Johnstone to be capt., v. Souter, promoted.

First-lieut. Jessie Adair to be capt.-lieut., v. Lindsay, ditto.

„ Sir John Dalston to be capt.-lieut., v. Walker,

returned home.
„ Sir J. Hadden to be capt.-lieut., v. Ross, promoted.

„ William Pitcairne to be capt.-lieut., v. Johnstone,

promoted.
Second-lieut. J as Lewis to be first lieut., v. Shea, killed in action.
„ Robert Moore ditto v. Finnic

„ Thos. Woodcock ditto „ Gardiner.

„ Isaac Polden ditto „ Adair.

„ Robert Carey ditto „ Dalston.

„ Ronald McDonald ditto „ Hadden.

„ Philip Howe ditto „ —

„ Henry Tantum ditto „ Pitcairne.

„ David Collins ditto „ Spencer.

Volunteer S. D. Bowman to be 2nd. lieut. „ Lewis.

It was further intimated, " That in consequence of the appli-
cation of major Pitcairne to have the same allowance for paying
the companies of 1st and 2nd battalions of marines serving on
shore in North America as the army, and that the captains
should be answerable for the debts, &c, — the lords commissi-
oners of the Admiralty are ready to give every reasonable mark
of their indulgence, and are pleased to consent that each captain
commanding a company should be allowed after the rate of one

EVACUATION OF BOSTON. 91

shilling per day, being equal to the pay of two men per company,
during their continuance on shore, as is practised in the army ;
and the deputy-paymaster is authorized to issue the same."

General Gage obtained his Majesty's permission to return to
England, and on the 12th of October the command of the british
land forces in America devolved on major-general Howe.
,77fi The disaffected Americans, encouraged by their in-
creasing strength, looked boldly forward to a successful
struggle in establishing an independent government of their
own ; and animated by these hopes, they no longer confined
their operations to defensive measures, but availed themselves
of every opportunity of assailing their enemies. In this state of
enduring firmness on the part of the Americans, the distressed
army at Boston looked anxiously for reinforcements and sup-
plies of provisions. On the 2nd of March, general Washington
opened a battery at Phipps-farm, and on the 5th some works
were erected on Dorchester-point, from which a fire was opened
from a twenty-four pounder and a mortar with such effect, that
the town was soon in a blaze. Finding it impracticable to dis-
lodge the enemy from their new position, major-general Howe
was compelled to abandon the town, and the troops were con-
sequently conveyed on board the ships. The embarkation ra-
ther resembled the emigration of a nation than the breaking up
of a camp : 1500 of the inhabitants, attached to the royal cause,
encumbered the transports with their families, which, together
with the scarcity of provisions, occasioned much discontent, and
increased the jealous feeling that prevailed between the army
and navy. As the British were unable to carry off their stores
and heavy artillery, the cannon on BunkerVhill and Boston-
neck fell into the hands of the Americans, who reaped great
advantage by our hasty departure. On the 17th of March,
general Washington entered Boston in great triumph, and the
british armament, amounting to 1 50 sail, proceeded to Halifax.

Amongst the augmentations to the british forces voted for
the year 1776, 2378 men were added to the marines, making

92 ATTACK ON LONG ISLAND.

their total establishment 6665 men. The fleet, with the army
from Boston, reached Halifax on the 4th of April, where they
continued in expectation of succours from England until the
12th of June, and arrived at Sandy Hook on the 29th. On
the 3rd of July, the grenadiers and light infantry were landed
at Staten Island, without opposition, and the remainder of the
army disembarked in the course of the day.

As the rebels were strongly posted, both on Long Island and
at New York, having upwards of 100 cannon towards the en-
trance of the north river, the commander-in-chief resolved to
remain in his present position, and not commence offensive
operations until he should be joined by the force under lord
Clinton and the reinforcements from England. Lord Howe
arrived at Staten Island on the 12th of July, and assumed the
command of the fleet; and on the 14th, commodore Parker,
with the troops under general Clinton, arrived from the south-
ward, which enabled general Howe to commence hostilities.

Preparations having been made for landing the troops in
Gravesend bay, Long Island, the first division, amounting to
4000 men under lieutenant-general Clinton, was conveyed to the
shore on the morning of the 22nd of August ; and the debarka-
tion continued to be so well conducted, that before noon 15,000
men, with forty pieces of cannon, were disembarked.

After several encounters with the rebel force, the Americans
were routed from the island on the 27th, with loss of five pieces
of cannon, 2000 killed, wounded, or drowned, and 997 pri-
soners; whilst the loss of the British did not exceed 300 in
killed and wounded. Captain Logan, 2nd battalion of marines,
was killed; lieutenant Nugent, 1st battalion, wounded; and
lieutenant Ragg, 2nd battalion, made prisoner.

In the month of July, general Howe passed over
with the army to Staten Island, and preparations were
made for an attack on Philadelphia. On the 23rd, the arma-
ment, consisting of thirty six battalions, and a powerful ar-
tillery, sailed from Sandy Hook, and on the 31st arrived off

CAPTURE OF THE DELAWARE. 93

the entrance of the Delaware ; but finding that the rebels ob-
structed the navigation of that river, the fleet proceeded up the
Chesapeake on the 14th of August, and the troops were landed
at Elk ferry on the 25th. On the 3rd of September our troops
began their march, whilst Washington, who had returned from
the Jerseys to the defence of Philadelphia with 13,000 men,
lost no opportunity of harassing them in their progress, without
bringing on a general engagement; but several actions took
place before our army entered Philadelphia, of which city they
took possession on the 26th of September. Lord Cornwallis
immediately gave directions for the erection of three batteries
for 6 twelve-pounders and 4 howitzers, to act upon the enemy's
shipping that might approach the town ; but before these bat-
teries could be completed, two frigates, a number of galleys,
gondolas, and other armed vessels, came up from Mud Island,
and attacked the lower battery of two guns and two howitzers,
the largest frigate, the Delaware, anchoring within 500 yards,
and the other frigate somewhat more distant, whilst the other
vessels took suitable stations. About ten in the morning they
commenced a heavy cannonade, but the tide ebbing, the Dela-
ware took the ground ; upon which, the four battalion guns of
the grenadiers did such execution, that in a short time she
struck her colours, and was taken possession of by captain
Thomas Avarne with his company of marines. The grenadiers
of both marine battalions had been incorporated with those of
the army previous to leaving Halifax, and formed part of the
force which entered Philadelphia.

Lord Howe, on being apprised of the progress of the army,
proceeded with the fleet to co-operate with the land forces, and
anchored on the western or Pennsylvania shore. The passage
to Philadelphia was however rendered still impracticable by the
Amei'icans, who had constructed numerous works to interrupt
the navigation of the river. The principal of these were strong-
batteries on a low and marshy island, at the junction of the
Delaware and Schuylkill, and a considerable fort at Red Bank,

94 REBELS DEFEATED AT RED BANK.

on the opposite shore of New Jersey. In the deepest part of
the channel between these forts, they had sunk several ranges
of frames, composed of transverse beams firmly united, and of
great weight and strength. About three miles lower down the
river were similar machines, commanded by guns on the Jersey
shore, and both were supported by floating batteries, a number
of armed vessels, and some fire-ships. At the suggestion of
captain Hammond of the Roebuck, two regiments were de-
tached to dislodge the enemy from Billing's Point, the principal
place of strength on the Jersey side. This service was effec-
tually performed, whilst captain Hammond, after a sharp con-
test with the enemy's marine force, removed the chevauz de
frise, and opened a narrow passage through the lower barrier.

General Howe now ordered batteries to be thrown up on the
Pennsylvania shore to assist in dislodging the rebels from Mud
Island, and detached a strong body of Hessians to carry the
redoubt at Red Bank ; at the same time his lordship moved the
men-of-war near Mud island, which was the main object of
attack. Both these operations were unsuccessful : the Hes-
sians were repulsed with great slaughter, and the ships, unable
to produce any effect upon the island, were compelled to quit
their position. The obstructions placed in the river by the
Americans had so materially altered the channel, that the
Augusta of 64-guns, and Merlin sloop, unfortunately grounded,
and both were destroyed .

Those untoward events did not deter the British from making
another attempt, and the Americans were equally persevering
in strengthening their points of defence. The Isis and Somerset
passed up the east channel, and attacked the enemy's works in
front; whilst several frigates drew up against a newly erected fort
near Manto creek, and two vessels, mounting 20 four-pounders,
having made their way through a narrow channel, enfiladed
the principal works. The cannonade continued the whole of
the 15th of November, but towards evening the fire from the
fort began to slacken, and the enemy perceiving that mea-

CAPTURE OF THE FOX. 95

sures were taking for assaulting their works, set fire to every
thing that could be destroyed, and escaped under favour of the
night. The forts on the main land were also silenced, and
their capture afforded a considerable quantity of artillery and
military stores to the victors. The enemy's shipping retreated
up the river, but on being closely pursued they were burnt by
their crews. These successes enabled the squadron to forward
the supplies required by the troops, and secured them good
winter-quarters in Philadelphia.

On the 27th of June an action was fought off the banks of
Newfoundland, between the american frigates Handcock and
Boston, of 32-guns, and the british 32-gun frigate Fox, captain
Patrick Fotheringham. After engaging two hours, the Fox was
so much disabled that she could no longer contend against such
superior force; and having sustained a considerable loss, she
struck her colours. Among the killed was the honourable
James John Napier, lieutenant of marines.

The province of Nova Scotia being threatened with an inva-
sion from the eastern parts of New England, sir George Collier,
with the Rainbow, Blonde, and Mermaid frigates, and Hope
sloop, sailed from Halifax, and arrived at Machias on the 13th
of August. On the following morning, finding that the enemy
had assembled in force on each side of the river, whence they
kept up a galling fire of musquetry, and also from the fort, it
was found desirable to land the marines, who, after some resist-
ance, routed the enemy ; and the port, together with some
stores and several small vessels, were destroyed.

On the 4th of September, a very gallant defence was made
by the Druid sloop, mounting 14-guns, against the american
frigate Raleigh, of 32-guns, in which captain Carteret of the
Druid and 5 men were killed ; lieutenant James Nicolson of
the marines and 20 men wounded. The Druid formed part
of the escort of the West India convoy, under the Camel of 20
guns and Weazel of 16 guns; but being five miles astern, she

WAR WITH FRANCE.

sustained the action without any support from her consorts. The
Raleigh withdrew from this unequal contest, after having suf-
fered severely.

The news of the defeat of general Bourgoyne's army pro-
duced such a change in the conduct of the court of Versailles
with regard to the Americans, that it determined on the 16th
of December, 1777, to acknowledge the independence of the
United States; and his christian Majesty was resolved to sup-
port that policy, even at a risk of producing a war with Eng-
land. On the 13th of March, 1778, the marquis de Noailles, the
french ambassador, delivered a message from his court, expres-
sive of its determination to maintain their commercial relations
with America, and that measures had been taken in concert
with the United States to maintain the dignity of the french
flag, and effectually to protect the lawful commerce of their
subjects.

,„_Q This declaration was immediately laid before the

House of Lords, with a message from the King, setting
forth the perfidy of France, and contrasting it with his own
steady adherence to the faith of treaties. Both houses replied
to the message in a high strain of indignation and resentment
against the restless ambition of the french court. The british
ambassador having been recalled from Paris, the marquis of
Noailles left London, and immediate measures were taken to
prepare for hostilities, impress warrants issued, and the militia
embodied to the number of 30,000 men.

While these preparations were going forward in Europe,
nothing decisive occurred in America, and both armies con-
tinued in their winter-quarters. As the spring approached,
general Howe sent detachments to open a communication by
which provisions might be obtained for the army ; and on the
7th of May, major Maitland, with the 2nd battalion of light
infantry, embarked in flat boats, protected by some armed ves-
sels, to destroy the american ships lying in the river between

EVACUATION OF PHILADELPHIA. 97

Philadelphia and Trenton : two frigates and some smaller ves-
sels were burnt, together with various magazines and store-
houses.

Sir William Howe having obtained his Majesty's permission
to return to England, sir Henry Clinton arrived at Philadelphia
on the 8th of May, and having assumed the command of the
army, the first operation was to evacuate Philadelphia, pur-
suant to his instructions. This measure was deemed necessary,
to enable the british forces to resist the united efforts of the
Americans and their new and powerful allies. On the 18th
the army proceeded to Gloucester Point, and having crossed
the Delaware in safety, it continued its march to New York
without interruption, until the 28th ; but from that period the
rebel force kept close to the royal troops, continually harassing
their retreat. On the 5th of July the army crossed the Navi-
sink, over a bridge of boats, to Sandy Hook, and then moved
up to New York, while the fleet anchored at Staten Island.

The french admiral d'Estaing, with twelve ships of the line,
sailed from Toulon on the 13th of April, and pursuing their
course to America, arrived on the coast of Virginia on the 5th
of July. On the 11th, they appeared off the northern shore of
New Jersey, and anchored off Shrewsbury-inlet on the follow-
ing day. To oppose this formidable force, lord Howe had only
six sail of 64-gun ships, three of 50, and two of 44 guns ; yet,
notwithstanding this inferiority of strength, there was such an
earnest desire to meet the enemy, that 1000 volunteers from
the transports presented themselves to man the fleet, and the
troops were equally zealous to embark as marines, where their
services might be required. Lord Howe made the necessary
disposition of his fleet to resist any attack of the enemy, and
on the 21st of July the movement of the french admiral seemed
to indicate an immediate battle ; when, to the astonishment of
the British, M. d'Estaing bore away to the southward. On the
8th of August the french fleet anchored at Rhode Island, after
cannonading the town and batteries as they passed. Advice
VOL. i. h

98 REDUCTION OF ST. LUCIA.

having reached lord Howe of the enemy's position, he pro-
ceeded with a determination to save the garrison in Rhode
Island, and on the 9th the british squadron made their appear-
ance. On the morning of the 10th, the french fleet stood out
to sea, followed by the english squadron ; and after remaining
two days in sight of each other without any opportunity of en-
gaging, the fleets were dispersed by a violent gale of wind, in
which several ships were dismasted.

The french fleet, after again appearing off Rhode Island, took
refuge in Boston bay, where they were followed by lord Howe ;
but as no attempt could be made upon the enemy in their
then situation with a prospect of success, the british admiral
returned to Sandy Hook-
Vice-admiral Byron, with two of his crippled ships, which
were the only ones of his scattered fleet of eleven sail of the
line that reached their rendezvous in America, arrived at
Sandy Hook from Halifax on the 26th of September ; and after
refitting his ships, that officer sailed for Boston on the 1 8th of
October, in search of M. d'Estaing. A few days after he had
put to sea, his squadron was greatly injured by a violent storm,
when the Somerset was wrecked on Cape Cod, and the Cul-
loden, from being dismasted, was forced to bear away for
England.

Commodore Hotham, who had been detached from Staten
Island with a small squadron, conveying 5000 troops under
major-general Grant to afford reinforcements to our colonies,
reached Barbadoes on the 10th of December, where he joined
rear-admiral Barrington. It having been determined to make
an immediate attack upon St. Lucia, the army landed without
much opposition on the 12th and 13th, and on the 14th gain-
ed entire possession of the island. Just as this was accom-
plished, admiral d'Estaing's fleet of twelve sail of the line, and
several frigates, made their appearance, and found the british
squadron placed in line across the entrance of the bay, pro-
tected by heavy batteries on either point of land at the entrance

MARINES AT HALIFAX. 99

of the cul-de-sac, where they were twice attacked by the
french squadron on the 15th ; and on the following day the
enemy disembarked about 8000 troops in Choc bay, but were
repulsed by brigadier-general Medows, with the loss of 500
killed, and 1100 wounded. M. d'Estaing made no further
attempts on the island, nor did he renew his attack on the
british squadron; but on the 28th, having re-embarked his
troops, the fleet returned to Martinique.

The arrival of admiral Byron just after the repulse of M.
d'Estaing, enabled the british fleet to assume a superiority over
that of the enemy ; and although means were adopted to draw
them to an engagement, they remained in the security which
the harbour of Port Royal afforded them.

The marines serving with the army at Halifax were formed
into one battalion, by an Admiralty order dated January 1777,
under majors Souter and Maitland, with the undermentioned
officers : —

Captains, — Avarne, Elliott, McDonald, Pitcairne, D. John-
son, and Griffiths.
Lieutenants, — Ragg, Vevers, Stewart, Saul, Ewing, Moore,
J. Lewis, Bowman, F. Lewis, Jacobs, Shea, Gilbert, Dyer,
Short, Howe, Simins, Kempe, M'Donald, Tantum, Trol-
lope, Eustace, Carey, Meredith, and Creswell.
Dr. Boyles, chaplain. John Waller, adjutant.
Thomas Smith, quarter-master. Charles Hill, surgeon ; James

Silver, surgeon's-mate.
This battalion being ordered for embarkation on the 30th
of August, major-general Massey delivered in public orders of
that date the following testimony of his approbation : — " The
commander-in-chief cannot part with the marine corps without
telling them he was pleased with their soldier-like appearance
at the review of yesterday; and now has the pleasing satisfaction
to say, that he has had the honour to command that corps for
above two years without ever hearing of a court-martial in it,

100 MAIDSTONE AND LION.

or ever rebuking an officer or soldier. He will therefore make
such a report of that respectable body of men as they merit ;
and now wishes officers and soldiers plenty of prize-money, and
makes not a doubt but they will always contribute to the glory
of his Majesty King George's arms."

In consequence of a petition from the lieutenant-governor in
council of the province of Nova Scotia, requesting that the bat-
talion might be continued on shore, the commander-in-chief was
pleased to intimate his compliance with their wishes in public
orders of the 7th, when the thanks of the council were conveyed
to major Souter in the following letter: —

"Sir, "Halifax, 10M September, 1778.

" I have singular pleasure in obeying the request of

the members of his Majesty's council, by conveying to you and

the rest of the officers our acknowledgments and thanks for the

good order and discipline observed by the battalion of marines

under your command, during the whole time they have been on

duty in this town. I have the honour to be, sir,

" Your most obedient humble servant,

" Richard Bulkeley."
" Major Souter:'

The battalion soon after sailed for England.

A very gallant action was fought on the 3rd of November,
about sixty leagues E. S. E. of Cape Henry, between the Maid-
stone, captain Gardner, mounting 28 nine-pounders, and the
french 40-gun frigate Lion, captain J. Michel. After engaging
for more than an hour, the Maidstone had sustained so much
damage in her sails and rigging that she brought to, to repair
damages ; but the action was renewed with such vigour from
noon until 1 p.m., that the Lion struck her colours, with the loss
of 8 killed, and 18 wounded. On board the Maidstone 4 men
were killed, the captain and 9 men wounded. The officer of
marines on board the Middleton was second-lieutenant Henry
Bromley.

ARETHUSA AND BELLE POULE. 10 1

The celebrated song of a favourite vocalist, " the Saucy Are-
thusa," is familiar to our readers, but perhaps it is not generally
known that the ballad originated in the following gallant en-
counter. The Arethusa of 32 guns, captain Marshall, when
cruising to the westward of the Lizard on the 17th of June, with
the fleet under admiral Keppel, was ordered in chase of a strange
sail, which proved to be the french frigate Belle Poule of 36
suns. Hostilities not having been declared, the french captain
was requested to accompany the british frigate to the admiral ;
but as he peremptorily refused to comply with this proposal,
captain Marshall fired a shot across the frenchman's bows,
which was instantly returned with a broadside, and a sharp
action continued for two hours, when the Arethusa was so
much disabled as to be^ incapable of following her opponent,
who stood away to the french shore, having 48 killed and 50
wounded. The Arethusa had 8 killed and 36 wounded. First-
lieutenant Joseph Driffield was serving on board the Arethusa.
As soon as information reached Madras that hostilities had
commenced against the French, the Presidency caused prepara-
tions for an attack on Pondicherry. Major-general Munro had
the direction of the force for that service, and on the 8th of Au-
gust the troops under his orders encamped at Red Hill, about
four miles from the place of attack, whilst sir Edward Vernon,
with one ship of 64 guns and three small frigates, blockaded the
port. Shortly after his arrival the french squadron under com-
modore Tronjolly, consisting of a ship of 64 guns and two large
frigates, with two armed country ships, made its appearance.
Chase was immediately given, and on the 10th the British bore
down and brought them to action, which continued until the
former were so much disabled in their masts and rigging, that
the french squadron made sail on a wind, and escaped.

It having been determined to carry on two attacks against
Pondicherry, the British broke ground on the 6th September,
and on the 18th the batteries were opened, to which the enemy
returned a very brisk fire. A gallery had been carried into the

102 COMBINED FLEET IN THE CHANNEL.

ditch from the southward, and a breach made in the bastion of
l'Hopital, when it was resolved to pass the ditch by a bridge of
boats, and to assault the place, whilst a simultaneous attack was
to be made against the north side of the town. These arrange-
ments having been determined upon, the marines and 200 sea-
men were landed from the squadron to assist in storming the
place on the 16th of October; but M. Bellecombe, who had de-
fended himself with great determination, proposed terms of
capitulation.

, __,a A considerable augmentation in the marines now took
1779. 6

place ; the number voted by Parliament for the sea ser-
vice was 70,000, of which 17,389 were marines, — being an
increase of 5,500 men.

The Apollo frigate of 32 guns, captain Pownall, being on a
cruise on the coast of France on the 31st of January, at 1 p.m.,
when off St. Brieux, captured the french frigate Oiseau of 32
guns, but mounting only 26, after a gallant action of an hour
and a half. The Apollo had 6 killed, her captain and 21 men
wounded.

A secret engagement was entered into by Spain with France,
as soon as the latter had concluded a treaty with our revolted
colonies in America, and from that period preparations for war
were making in all their ports; but it was not until the 18th of
June that a proclamation was issued by the british government,
authorizing the commencement of hostilities against Spain. On
the 4th of June, a french fleet of twenty-eight sail of the line
and several frigates, sailed from Brest: having formed a junction
with the Spanish ships in Cadiz, the united force, amounting
to sixty-six sail of the line, after cruising on the coast of Spain,
entered the English Channel; and on the 16th of August this
formidable armament paraded triumphantly for several days
before Plymouth, while several of their frigates anchored in
Cawsand bay. The Ardent of 64 guns, captain Boteler, stand-
ing down Channel, and mistaking the enemy for the british fleet,
was captured in sight of Plymouth.

BYRON AND d'eSTAING 103

The combined fleet continued in the Channel until the 31st,
when the wind, having veered to the westward, enabled sir
Charles Hardy, with thirty-seven sail of the line, to obtain a
view of the enemy ; but the weather becoming very hazy, the
fleets lost sight of each other, and soon afterwards the com-
bined armament took its departure.

Shortly after the surrender of Grenada, the french fleet under
D'Estaing had been reinforced by a squadron from Europe,
augmenting their force to twenty-six sail of the line. On the
6th of July vice-admiral Byron, being off Grenada with twenty-
one ships of the line, gained sight of the enemy, and immediately
made the signal to attack them. The superior sailing of the
french ships enabled them to choose their distance, and by pre-
serving their position, they prevented the british rear from get-
ting into action. The firing commenced at seven in the morn-
ing, and continued till eleven ; but it was renewed at half-past
three, and lasted until sunset. The British had 183 killed, and
346 wounded, whilst the loss of the enemy amounted to 1200
killed, and 3500 wounded. First-lieutenant of the marines,
Joseph Veale, was killed on board the Sultan.

On quitting the West Indies, admiral d'Estaing, with a
powerful fleet, proceeded to the coast of North America. His
first object was to destroy the small force under general Pre-
vost, and consequently to relieve the southern colonies from pre-
sent danger and alarm ; but the more important consideration
was, a design to act in conjunction with general Washington in
an attack upon the british force at New York. With this view
the comte d'Estaing anchored off the bar of Tybee, at the
mouth of the river Savanna, on the 9th of September; and soon
after his arrival the french troops formed a junction with the
american forces from Charlestown under general Lincoln. He
then sent a haughty summons to the garrison at Savanna,
demanding its immediate surrender; but general Prevost, hav-
ing only a small part of his force with him, requested a short
delay before he replied to the message. During this parley, a

104 SIEGE OF SAVANNA.

reinforcement of upwards of 1000 men, under colonel Maitland,
arrived from Beaufort; and on the 16th, after overcoming the
greatest difficulties, this detachment joined the garrison at
Savanna: their junction gave such encouragement to the he-
sieged, that a message of defiance was sent to the comte d'Es-
taing. On the 15th, the seamen having completed the landing
of the cannon and stores, they were appointed to the different
batteries under captains Henry, Brown, and Fisher of the navy,
whilst the marines were incorporated with the grenadiers of the
60th regiment.

When the town was first summoned, only ten guns were
mounted ; but by the great exertion of the troops, and the zea-
lous assistance of the navy, nearly 90 pieces of cannon were
now ready to oppose the enemy, and several vessels were sunk
on the bar to prevent the approach of the enemy's ships. Whilst
the French were preparing the batteries, their frigates advanced
up the river to Mud-flat, and some ineffectual firing took place
on the rear of the british lines. A sortie was made on the 24th,
and again on the 27th ; the first conducted by major Graham
of the 16th, and the other by major Arthur of the 71st regiment,
which did the enemy considerable mischief. On the 3rd of
October the bombardment commenced from 9 mortars and 37
pieces of cannon on the land side, and 16 from their shipping,
which continued several days with little effect. On the 9th, a
little before day-break, the enemy made a general assault upon
the british lines. The attack was obstinately maintained, par-
ticularly at a redoubt on the Ebenezer road, when the greatest
bravery was displayed on both sides : two stands of colours
were actually planted, and several of the assailants killed on
the parapet ; but the enemy met with such determined re-
sistance, that they could not force an entrance into the works.

At this critical moment, major Glacier of the 60th, with the
grenadiers of that regiment and the marines, advanced rapidly
from the lines, attacked the enemy with the bayonet, and drove
them from the ditches of the redoubt, as well as from a battery

DEATH OF COMTE d'eSTAING. 105

a little to the right of it: pursuing their success, they com-
pelled the enemy to fly in great confusion over the abatis, and
into the swamp. The advance of the british detachment was so
rapid, that the three companies of the 71st regiment, posted at
a short distance in order to sustain them, could not come in for
a share in this brilliant affair. The French were repulsed on all
sides, with the loss of above 1000 men in killed and wounded ;
including among the latter the comte d'Estaing, and several
officers of distinction. It was not until the 18th that the
enemy had raised the siege ; and as the fog cleared up in the
morning, it was perceived that the French and Americans had
abandoned their camps during the preceding night ; and in
their retreat they broke down all the bridges in their rear, to
prevent pursuit.

The troops composing the garrison of Savanna acquired a
brilliant reputation for the gallant defence of the place, and for
the cheerful, yet determined spirit with which they set the ene-
my at defiance. On this occasion the greatest unanimity pre-
vailed between the two services, and their heroic conduct gained
them the approbation of their king, and country.

A squadron, consisting of the Charon of 44 guns, Lowestoffe
28, Pomona 28, Porcupine 16, and Racehorse 10, under com-
modore Lutterell, proceeded to the attack of the fort and ship-
ping at Omoa, on the Spanish main, and on the 10th of October
they arrived in Cavallo bay. In the evening of the 16th, about
500 men, consisting of a small detachment of troops, with a
party of seamen and the marines of the squadron, which were
landed under the direction of captain Pakenham of the Porcu-
pine, immediately proceeded on their march to surprise and es-
calade the fort ; but the roads were so bad, that the men were
sometimes compelled to wade through the sea, in order to avoid
the impenetrable thickets of mangroves. At other times they
had to pass through lagoons and morasses, and narrow foot-
paths over the mountains, with precipices rendered dangerous
by recent heavy rains.

106 ASSAULT OF OMOA.

Those difficulties so impeded their march, that at day-break
the troops were still two leagues from the fort. Captain Dal-
rymple ordered a halt for two hours, to refresh the men ; and
when the march was resumed, they were not only exposed to
similar obstacles, but severely annoyed by the enemy's skir-
mishers : these were driven in, and in the evening captain Dal-
rymple was enabled from the heights to ascertain that the fort
was situated about half a mile from the town. On the 17th
the squadron stood into the bay to attack the fort; but the wind
falling, the ships became so disabled by the enemy's fire, that
they withdrew without producing any result. On the 18th the
guns were landed from the Porcupine, and placed on an emi-
nence, from which they opened upon the forts ; but so little
effect was produced, that it was determined to storm the place.
Accordingly, the Pomona was towed close in during the night
of the 19th; and on the morning of the 20th, the other ships
stood towards the shore, whilst the troops, in four columns, de-
scended the hill, and at about four o'clock they moved forward
under fire of their own battery on the eminence. The troops
advanced with trailed arms ; and in order to animate them for
the enterprise, the parole was " bayonet," and the countersign,
" Britons, strike home."

The columns were at first staggered by the enemy's fire, but
instantly recovering, they advanced to the foot of the wall,
which was twenty-eight feet high, surmounted by a battery
of five guns. The first ladder was broken by the flanking guns
of another bastion, by which a midshipman was killed, and five
men wounded. Two seamen were the first that ascended, and
levelling their muskets at the Spaniards, produced such panic,
that their comrades were enabled to follow them to the assault,
before the enemy recovered their self-possession. These two
gallant fellows were closely followed by the marines and sea-
men, who, with the " loyal Irish," leaped down the parapet,
and drove the Spaniards into their casemates, whilst above 100
escaped over the walls, and out of the sally-port. The governor

QUEBEC AND SURVEILLANTE. 107

then came forward, and claiming protection for himself and of-
ficers, surrendered the garrison, as well as the register ships.
The prisoners amounted to 355 rank and file, exclusive of the
officers and inhabitants. Lieutenant Wightman of the marines
was wounded on the evening of the 19th, when reconnoitring
the fort.

On the 14th of September, the Pearl of 32 guns, captain
George Montague, cruising off the Azores, captured the Spanish
frigate Santa Monica of 32 guns, after an action of two hours,
with the loss of 8 killed, and 45 wounded. The Pearl had 12
killed; lieutenant Fowke of the marines and 18 men wounded.

On the 25th of September, the Serapis of 44 guns, captain
Richard Pearson, in company with the Countess of Scarborough
of 20 guns, sustained a very gallant action near Scarborough
with the american frigates Bon-Homme Richard of 40 guns,
Alliance 40 guns, Pallas 32 guns, and Vengeance of 12 guns,
commanded by Paul Jones. Both the british ships were cap-
tured, after a gallant defence of two hours. The Serapis had
49 killed, 68 wounded; Scarborough 4 killed, 20 wounded.
Lieutenant Samuel Wightman of the marines was among the
wounded. The Bon-Homme Richard had 300 men killed and
wounded, and she had suffered so severely, that she sunk the
next morning.

On the 6th of October, the 32-gun frigate Quebec, captain
George Farmer, when cruising off Brest, brought to action the
french40-gun frigate Surveillante, mounting 28 twelve-pounders
and 12 sixes. After a contest of three hours and a half, during
which both ships were totally dismasted, the Quebec caught
fire by the sails falling on the guns, and continued burning
until six p.m. when she blew up, with her colours flying.
Captain Farmer, who was wounded in the arm, with 150 men
perished on this melancholy occasion. Lieutenant Roberts,
with lieutenant A.J. Field of the marines, the surgeon, 2 mid-
shipmen, and 63 men were saved.

108 EODNEY AND LANGARA.

The commencement of this year presented very un-
favourable prospects to Great Britain, and the war with
her revolted colonies neither promised a speedy nor successful
termination. The combined efforts of France and Spain, were
eagerly employed in uniting their forces to support the resist-
ance of America; and Holland, our ancient and natural ally,
had with equal injustice lent her aid to the cause and intei'ests
of these powers. The two principal objects which engaged the
attention of the ministry, were the relief of Gibraltar, and the
protection of our colonies in the West Indies. Sir George
Rodney was appointed to the command of a squadron about
to proceed with the trade to the Leeward Islands, and on their
way they were to succour the garrison of Gibraltar.

On the 27th of December, 1779, the admiral proceeded to
sea with twenty sail of the line and nine frigates ; and on the
7th of January, 1780, he detached the trade for the West
Indies under convoy of the Hector of 74 guns, and two frigates.
On the following day the british fleet captured a Spanish ship
of 64 guns, with four frigates and fifteen sail of merchant-men,
from St. Sebastian, bound to Cadiz : the latter being principally
laden with flour and wheat, the admiral gladly conducted the
prizes to Gibraltar. On the 16th of January, when off St. Vin-
cent, a Spanish fleet was discovered, consisting of nine sail of the
line, under don Juan Langara : the signal was instantly made
for a general chase, and for the ships to engage as they arrived
up. About four o'clock the Defence, Bedford, Resolution, and
Edgar, commenced the action, but the enemy's ships were in
such confusion, as to be unable to support each other; and
about five p.m., just as the Bienfaisant was closing with an
opponent, the Spanish ship blew up, and all on board perished.
The pursuit continued through a dark and squally night, and at
two a.m. on the 17th, all firing having ceased, the signal was
made to bring to on the larboard tack ; by which time six
ships were captured, and the other two made their escape. The

RODNEY AND DE GUICHEN. 10U

loss of the British amounted to 32 killed, and 102 wounded.
Lieutenant Charles Henry Strachan, of the marines, was killed
on board the Edgar.

On the 19th the fleet arrived at Gibraltar, and having landed
the reinforcement and supplies for the garrison, the admiral
sailed on the 14th of February for the West Indies with part of
the fleet, and the remainder, under rear-admiral Digby, returned
to England.

On the 27th of March, admiral Rodney arrived at St. Lucia,
and on the 2nd of April he proceeded to Martinique in quest of
the comte de Guichen with twenty-ships of the line ; but find-
ing all his endeavours to induce the enemy to come out and
give him battle ineffectual, the british fleet repaired to Gros-
islet bay.

On the 15th of April, admiral de Guichen, with twenty-three
sail of the line, put to sea ; and on the 16th they were pursued
by the fleet under sir George Rodney, who on the 17th brought
them to action, notwithstanding all their efforts to avoid it.
The engagement began about one o'clock, and the firing con-
tinued until four in the afternoon. At the moment of running
down to make the attack, the fleets were parallel to and nearly
abreast of each other: the Sandwich, bearing the admiral's
flag, with several of the centre division, stood for and engaged
the ships opposed to them in the enemy's line, and rear-admiral
Rowley, with the rear division, engaged the rear of the french
fleet; but the van of the British, in its endeavour to reach the
advanced ships of the enemy, had separated so much from the
main body, that in order to collect the fleet, it became necessary
to discontinue the action. The loss sustained by the British
was 120 killed, 353 wounded ; that of the French being nearly
1000 men, killed and wounded. Among the wounded were
captain Carey of the marines on board the Montague, and
lieutenant Heriot serving on board the Elizabeth. From the
tenour of admiral Rodney's letter, it is evident that he antici-
pated a more decisive result ; and had he been properly sup-

110 ATTACK ON CHARLESTOWN.

ported, it is probable that he would have obtained better
success.

After the repulse of comte d'Estaing, in his attack on Sa-
vanna, sir Henry Clinton was enabled to resume offensive
operations ; and an expedition, with a powerful armament, was
resolved upon for the reduction of the province of South Caro-
lina. Vice-admiral Arbuthnot, with five ships of the line, two
fifties, and several frigates, was to co-operate with his squadron ;
and accordingly, on the 26th of December, 1779, he sailed from
Sandy Hook, accompanied by transports having the troops on
board. The fleet, after receiving considerable damage in its
voyage to the southward, did not get sight of the Carolina shore
until the 1st of February, and then coasted along to Tybee,
where it came to an anchor.

The american congress had conferred the command of their
troops in the southern provinces on major-general Lincoln, who
took every possible measure to strengthen the defences of
Charlestown against the threatened attack, by continuing the
lines across Charlestown-neck, from Cooper to Ashley river.
In front of these lines was a strong abatis and wet ditch, pic-
queted on the nearest side ; and between the abatis and the
lines, deep holes were dug at short distances from each other.
Eighty pieces of cannon were mounted, and in the centre was a
strong work, which might be considered the citadel. On the
9th of February the fleet sailed from Tybee, and arrived on the
] 1 th at North Edisto. On the same day a division of the army
landed in John's Island, and on the following morning the
remainder disembarked.

On the 20th of March, the Renown 50, Romulus and Roe-
buck of 44 guns, being sufficiently lightened of stores and can-
non to pass the Charlestown bar, anchored in Five-fathom Hole :
at the same time the american commodore Whipple retired to Fort
Moultrie, and soon afterwards caused the channel to be blocked
by sinking six frigates and several merchant vessels, fitted with
chevaux de frise on the decks. A boom, composed of cables

ARRIVAL OF REINFORCEMENTS. Ill

and chains, was extended from the shore to the sunken vessels,
defended by batteries mounting forty pieces of heavy cannon,
and some ships of war were stationed inside the sunken ships
ready to resist any attack ; whilst the crews of the deserted ves-
sels manned the guns, which had been landed and placed on
the fortifications of Charlestown.

On the 29th of March, the army having landed on Charles-
town-neck without opposition, moved forward on the following
day, and on the 1st of April the British broke ground within
eight hundred yards of the works of Charlestown. By the 9th
of April, the batteries were ready to open their fire, and the
admiral, having directed the squadron to weigh, entered the
harbour in the following order ; Roebuck 44, Romulus 44, Rich-
mond 32, Blonde 32, Virginia 28, Raleigh 32 ; the Sandwich
and Renown, 50, bringing up the rear. The ships maintained
a well-directed fire upon Fort Moultrie, as well as on the bat-
teries of Sulivan's Island, and in little more than two hours they
anchored under James's Island : some spars were shot away,
but the killed and wounded did not amount to more than 27.
To prevent an approach to the Cooper river, the rebels sank
eleven vessels in that channel, and placed the Ranger frigate
with some galleys to defend the entrance. An ineffectual sum-
mons having been sent to general Lincoln on the 9th, the
british batteries opened on the following morning, and they
soon acquired a superiority over those of the enemy. Major
Moncrieffe, the chief engineer, who had gained so much honour
in the defence of Savanna, conducted the offensive operations
against Charlestown with equal credit.

On the 18 th, considerable reinforcements arrived from New
York, which enabled sir Henry Clinton to strengthen the corps
beyond Cooper river, and lieutenant-general Cornwallis was ap-
pointed to that command. On the 23rd, the second parallel
was pushed to within 150 yards of the enemy's lines, and on
the 24th a sally was made from the town ; but the Americans

112 REDUCTION OF FORT MOULTRIE.

were so effectually repulsed, that they never again quitted then-
works during the siege.

On the 29th of April, a brigade of 500 seamen and marines,
under captains Hudson, Orde, and Gambier, landed at day-
break at Mount Pleasant, and finding that the enemy aban-
doned the battery, they marched immediately towards Lam-
priere's Point ; and on being relieved by the troops under
colonel Ferguson, they returned to Mount Pleasant.

It was now determined to make an attempt on Fort Moul-
trie ; and on the night of the 4th of May, 200 seamen and
marines having embarked in the boats of the squadron under
captains Hudson and Gambier, and passing the fort unobserved,
landed before daylight. Immediate possession was taken of a
redoubt on the east end of the island, whilst another division
was ready to be transported thither from Mount Pleasant un-
der captain Orde; but the garrison surrendered on receiving a
summons from captain Hudson. On the 6th of May the third
parallel was completed, close to the edge of the enemy's canal,
and a sap was carried to the dam, by which means a great part
of it was drained to the bottom.

Notwithstanding the fall of Fort Moultrie, and the posses-
sion of all the principal fords and ferries, the besieged continued
to hold out with the same determination ; and on the 8th they
persisted in refusing the terms which were again proposed by
the british commanders.

The batteries obtained such superiority over those of the gar-
rison, that the besiegers, having gained the counterscarp of the
part which flanked the canal, immediately passed it, and then
began works extending towards the ditch of the place. The
inhabitants now became so alarmed, that they induced general
Lincoln to accept the terms proposed on the 8th, which stipu-
lated that the rebel troops and sailors should remain prisoners
of war until exchanged, and all the ships, stores, and guns to be
immediately delivered up. On the 12th, major-general Leslie

FLORA AND NYMPHE. 113

took possession of Charlestown, and about 6000 men surren-
dered themselves prisoners. The total of the british troops
employed under the earl of Cornwallis before Charlestown
amounted to 7550 men.

On the 15th of June the Apollo of 32 guns, captain Pownall,
being close in with Qstend, sustained a spirited action with the
french privateer Stanislaus, of 26 guns, in which captain Pow-
nall and 5 men were killed, and 20 wounded. The beaten ship
ran aground, and claimed the protection of neutrality. Lieute-
nant Edward Pellew, who succeeded to the command, thus ex-
presses himself in his official letter: — "Lieutenant Mansfield,
of the marines, was particularly active in assisting on the quar-
ter-deck."

On the 10th of August the Flora of 36 guns, captain W.
P. Williams, off Ushant, captured the french 40-gun frigate
Nymphe, mounting 32 guns. After engaging for upwards of
an hour, the ships closed with each other, and the enemy at-
tempted to board the Flora, but were repulsed by the British,
who, rushing on the decks of their opponent, carried her after a
short resistance. The Nymphe lost her captain and 62 killed,
and 68 men wounded. The Flora had 9 men killed, and 18
wounded. Lieutenant Simon Busigny, who fell when in com-
mand of the marines on board the Temeraire in the battle of
Trafalgar, distinguished himself in boarding the Nymphe.

On the 4th of J uly the french frigate Capricieuse, mounting
32 guns, captain Rensonne, was captured off Cape Ortegal by
the british frigates Prudente of 36 guns, captain the honourable

Waldegrave, and Licorne 32, captain the honourable

Cadogan, after a gallant action of more than four hours, in
which the french frigate sustained the loss of her captain, and
150 men killed and wounded; but the gallantly defended ship
was so shattered, that she was burnt by the captors. The Pru-
dente lost 4 midshipmen and 13 men killed, and 31 wounded :
the Licorne, 3 killed and 7 wounded. Captain Waldegrave
thus reports the conduct of the marines : —

VOL. I. I

114 BIENFAISANT AND COMTE D'ARTOIS.

" In justice to lieutenant Banks, of the marines, I must beg
leave to observe to their lordships, that his party behaved with
the utmost steadiness and bravery, keeping up a regular and
constant fire from the beginning of the action, till necessity
called them to the great guns, when they showed an equal
share of spirit and good order."

On the 13th of August the Bienfaisant 64, captain Mac-
bride, with the Charon 44, captured the french private ship of
war Comte d'Artois, mounting 64 guns, off the head of Kin-
sale, after a spirited defence of an hour and ten minutes, in
which the enemy had 25 men killed, her captain and 35 men
wounded. The Bienfaisant had 3 killed, and 22 wounded ; and
the Charon, 1 man wounded. The officers of marines were,
captain Benj. Adair, first-lieutenant John Poulden, and second-
lieutenant James Pool.

On the 7th of June, on the coast of America, the Iris 32
guns, captain James Hawker, sustained a running fight with
the french 36-gun frigate Hermione, in which the british ship
sustained a loss of 7 killed ; lieutenant Bourne, of the marines,
mortally, and 8 men severely wounded.

The Pearl 32 guns, captain George Montagu, cruising off
the Bermuda islands, on the 30th of September captured the
french frigate L'Esperance, mounting 28 guns, after a run-
ning fight of two hours, with the loss of 20 men killed, and 24
wounded. On board the Pearl, lieutenant Fowke of the
marines and 5 men were killed, and 10 wounded.
, ft Considerable augmentations were made in every branch

of the military force, and the parliamentary vote for this
year was for 90,000 seamen, including 20,000 marines.

The sufferings and privations of the inhabitants of Gibraltar
deeply engaged the attention of the government, whilst it ex-
cited a lively sympathy throughout the british nation. The
relief of the garrison was deemed indispensable ; and on the 13th
of March a fleet of twenty-eight sail of the line sailed from St.
Helen's having under its escort the convoys for America, and

GIBRALTAR BOMBARDED. 115

the East and West Indies, with ninety sail of transports bound
to Gibraltar. The different convoys separated in their proper
latitude, and vice-aduiiral Darby, with the fleet, arrived in
Gibraltar bay on the 12th of April. The Spaniards continued
the bombardment until the end of June from batteries mount-
ing altogether 170 pieces of cannon ; but notwithstanding their
incessant cannonade, the british loss amounted to no more than
53 men killed, and 260 wounded.

On the arrival of admiral sir George Rodney in the West
Indies from New York, he received information of the com-
mencement of hostilities against the Dutch, and therefore de-
termined on attacking their West India possessions. On the
3rd of February the admiral, accompanied by a considerable mi-
litary force under major-general Vaughan, appeared before the
island of St. Eustatius, and having summoned the governor, the
colony surrendered, as did the small islands of St. Martin and
Saba ; but these possessions were soon recovered by a division
of french troops from Martinique, when 68 pieces of cannon,
and the garrison, composed of 670 men under lieutenant-colonel
Cockburn, fell into the enemy's hands.

While sir George Rodney was at St. Eustatius, he learned
the approach of the fleet under the comte de Grasse, and imme-
diately despatched sir Samuel Hood and rear-admiral Drake to
windward with eighteen sail of the line, to intercept the ene-
my's fleet before they could form a junction with their squadron
at Martinique. The british fleet proceeded off Fort Royal bay,
and continued to cruise there until the 28th, when the approach
of the French was announced by the advanced ships.

A general chase was immediately ordered in line of battle
a-head, and the pursuit continued during the night. On the
following day the french squadron came out from Fort Royal
bay, and formed a junction with comte de Grasse, making their
force twenty-four ships of the line, whilst our fleet was only
eighteen ; nevertheless, they avoided a close engagement. The
van and some of the centre of the British were enabled to bring

i 2

116 COMTE DE GRASSE AND SIR SAMUEL HOOD.

the enemy to action, but the attacking ships were exposed to
very superior numbers of the enemy, and consequently sustained
much damage. The Fuissell had suffered so severely, that she
was obliged to bear away for St. Eustatius to refit ; and the
Shrewsbury, Centaur, Torbay, and Intrepid, were also much
cut up.

The next day sir Samuel Hood endeavoured again to bring
the enemy to action, but the comte de Grasse withdrew his
ships, and returned to Martinique. In the month of May the
French made an attempt to reduce the island of St. Lucia, a
division of 2000 troops, under the marquis de Bouille, having
effected a landing without opposition. On the following morn-
ing they attacked Pigeon Island, which was bravely defended
by its little garrison, consisting of a company of the 87th regi-
ment under captain Campbell, and some seamen under lieute-
nant Ralph Miller of the navy, who resisted the summons of
the french general, and resolved to defend their post to the last
extremity. The fortunate arrival of the Thetis, Santa Monica,
Sybille, and Scourge, off the Carenage, contributed greatly to
the preservation of the island, by landing the marines and a
party of seamen, who were stationed in the batteries of the Vigie,
whilst another detachment went to the assistance of the troops
posted on Morne Fortunee.

On the 12th the comte de Grasse anchored in Gros-islet bay
with twenty-five sail of the line, and several frigates ; but the
fire from the batteries on Pigeon Island had so severely damaged
seven of his line of battle ships, that the french fleet put to sea,
and after anchoring in the bay of Trou Gascon, they re-em-
barked the troops, and returned to Fort Royal, Martinique.

On the 2nd of September rear-admiral Graves, with nineteen
sail of the line, discovered the french fleet under comte de
Grasse lying anchored in Lynhaven bay, in the Chesapeake,
consisting of twenty-four ships of the line, which got under
weigh on perceiving the British. As the fleets neared each
other, the British wore round and brought themselves parallel

ADMIRAL GRAVES AND DE GRASSE, 117

with their opponents ; and at 4 p. m. the firing commenced in
the rear and centre, and continued until dark. The rear-admiral
kept close to the enemy during the night, intending to renew the
contest in the morning ; but finding that several of his ships were
much disabled, he was compelled to relinquish the idea. The
fleets continued in sight of each other for the space of five days;
but the French, who had the weather-gage, showed no dispo-
sition to close, and the british admiral, from the crippled state
of his ships, had no opportunity to resume the offensive. On
the 10th of the month the comte de Grasse bore away for
the Chesapeake, and on the following day anchored within the
Capes.

The following is a statement of the killed and wounded,
showing the officers of marines : —
Resolution, 74 guns, 3 killed, 16 wounded. First-lieutenant

William Patten, second-lieutenant William Daws.
Bedford, 74 guns, 8 killed, 14 wounded. Captain David Cum-
ing, first-lieutenant George Vinter.
London, 98 guns, 4 killed, 18 wounded. Second-lieutenant

Ralph Clark, second-lieutenant Charles Reynolds.
Royal Oak, 74 guns, 4 killed, 5 wounded. Captain Wm. Bird,

lieutenant Thomas Thomas.
Montagu, 74 guns, 8 killed, 22 wounded. Second-lieutenant

William Buchan, second-lieutenant James Breedon.
Europe, 64 guns, 9 killed, 18 wounded. Captain Alexander
Macdonald, first-lieutenant Hugh Mitchell, second-lieute-
nant William Minto.
Terrible, 74 guns, 4 killed, 21 wounded. First-lieutenant Carl-
ton Atkinson, second-lieutenant Charles Hogan.
Ajax, 74 guns, 7 killed, 16 wounded. Captain Henry Tantum,
first-lieutenant Charles Green, second-lieutenant Richard
J. Squire.
Princessa, 70 guns, 6 killed, 11 wounded. Captain William
Foster, second-lieutenant Randal Myers, second-lieutenant
Samuel Laban.

118 BATTLE OFF THE DOGGER-BANK.

Alcide, 74 guns, 2 killed, 18 wounded. Captain Randal Mac-

donald, first-lieutenant William Ramsay, second-lieutenant

James Gower.
Intrepid, 64 guns, 11 killed, 35 wounded. Captain William

Fleming, first-lieutenant David Pryor, second-lieutenant

William Home.
Shrewsbury, 74 guns, 14 killed, 52 wounded ; second-lieutenant

John Waters, second-lieutenant John King.
Total,— 90 killed, and 246 wounded.
Shortly after the commencement of hostilities with Holland,
the Dutch fitted out a squadron under rear-admiral Zoutman,
consisting of one ship of 74 guns, one of 68, one of 64, two of
54, one of 50, one of 44, five of 36, one of 40, and two of 24 guns,
for the protection of their trade in the Baltic. They were pro-
ceeding to the northward with a convoy under their protection,
and when near the Dogger-bank, on the 5th of August, they fell
in with the british squadron of seven ships of the line and six
frigates, under vice-admiral Parker, who had likewise a large
fleet of merchant vessels under convoy. The Tamar frigate
was directed to proceed with the trade, and the british squad-
ron made sail in chase of the enemy. Rear-admiral Zoutman
formed his ships in order of battle on the larboard tack, under
easy sail, whilst the convoy lay a very little way to leeward ;
and the dutch squadron thus resolutely awaited the attack, not
firing a gun until their opponents were fairly alongside.

The morning was perfectly clear, with a slight breeze from
the N. E., as the British bore down to the attack ; and at about 8
a.m., when within pistol shot, hauled their wind together, and the
action became general, After the battle had lasted three hours
and forty minutes, the Dutch bore away to the southward, leav-
ing their opponents in such a disabled condition as to be inca-
pable of pursuit, with a loss of 104 men killed, and 339 wounded.
From the best accounts that could be obtained, the Dutch had
142 men killed and 400 wounded. The Hollandia, of 68 guns,
was so much shattered, that she sank on the same night.

EXPEDITION TO CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 119

British squadron on the 5th of September, 1781, showing the

names of the officers of marines : —

Fortitude, 74 guns, vice-admiral H. Parker, captain George
Robertson, 20 killed, 67 wounded. Captain Francis Loigh-
lin, second-lieutenants Charles B. Mosley, and William
Thomas Chaters.

Princess Amelia, 80 guns, captain J. Macartney, 19 killed, 56
wounded. Captain Alexander Malcolmbe, lieutenant Tho-
mas Thompson.

Berwick, 74 guns, captain J. Ferguson, 18 killed, 58 wounded.
Captain Duncan Campbell (wounded), lieutenant Hugh
Stuart (wounded), second-lieutenant Samuel Brown.

Bienfaisant, 64 guns, capt. H. Braithwaite, 6 killed, 21 wounded.
Captain Josiah Ellicott, second-lieutenants James St. Clair,
and George P. Ellicott.

Buffalo, 60 guns, captain W. Truscott, 20 killed, 64 wounded.
Captain George Ormsby, second-lieutenant P. Stapleton.

Preston, 50 guns, captain A. Graeme, 10 killed, 40 wounded.
Captain William Sharp, lieutenant John Kennedy.

Dolphin, 44 guns, captain W. Blair, 11 killed, 33 wounded.
Lieutenant Cuthbert (wounded).

Total,— 104 killed, and 339 wounded.

With six frigates and six smaller vessels, mounting altogether
716 guns; whilst the total of guns mounted on board the dutch
squadron amounted to 670.

An expedition against the dutch possessions at the Cape of
Good Hope, under the orders of commodore Johnstone, consist-
ing of two ships of the line, three of 50 guns, three frigates,
and two sloops, with several Indiamen and transports conveying
between 2 and 3000 troops, sailed from St. Helen's on the 13th
of March, and arrived in Port Praya bay, St. Jago, on the 10th
of April. Whilst lying there, in the security of a neutral port,
they were attacked by a french squadron, under M. de Suffren,
of five sail of the line, several frigates, with transports, having

120 DE SUFFREN DEFEATED.

on board a number of troops and a formidable train of artillery.
When this armament made its appearance, a considerable por-
tion of the british crews were on shore, watering and embarking
stock ; but the commodore, on perceiving the designs of the
enemy, called every body on board, and made the signal to un-
moor and prepare for action. M. de Suffren, seeing the confused
state of the british squadron, left his convoy in the offing, im-
mediately entered the bay with his five ships of the line, and
firing at the Isis as they passed her, three of the enemy brought
up in favourable positions to engage the Monmouth and Hero ;
whilst the other two ships kept under weigh, firing at every ship
as they passed. The action was maintained with so much spirit
by the British, that they were soon enabled to make the enemy
repent their treaeherous attack, and to withdraw from the con-
test in a disabled state, pursued by the english squadron, whose
total loss in this gallant defence was only 43 killed, and 130
wounded.

M. de Suffren proceeded on to the Cape, where he arrived on
the 25th of June, and after landing 500 men to reinforce the
garrison, bent his course for the East Indies. Commodore
Johnstone, finding that an attempt on the Cape was rendered
impracticable, conducted his fleet to Saldanha bay, where he
captured four dutch Indiamen ; and having accompanied the
vessels destined for the East Indies to a certain degree of lon-
gitude, general Meadows proceeded on to India with a proper
escort, and the commodore returned to England.

In October an attack was made upon Negapatam by 3200
Company's troops, under the command of major-general sir
Hector Munro, K.B., assisted by the squadron of five ships of
the line under vice-admiral sir Edward Hughes. On the 21st
the marines disembarked from the ships, amounting to 443 men,
officers included; and immediately joined the army at Nagore,
on the sea coast. On the following day 800 seamen, under
captains Mackenzie, M'Coy, and H. Reynolds, were also put
under the orders of sir Hector Munro, and the artillery, with

SIEGE OF NEGAPATAM. 121

stores necessary for the siege, were with much difficulty landed
through the surf. The general, having invested the place in the
best manner his scanty force would admit, determined on an
assault ; and on the 29th of October the strong lines which the
enemy had thrown up were stormed, and carried by the steady
and distinguished bravery of our troops. On the 3rd of No-
vember the approaches were commenced, and on the 7th a bat-
tery of 10 eighteen-pounders was ready to open. During the
course of the siege the enemy made two desperate sallies with
the greater part of the garrison, but they were beaten back with
much loss. On the 10th the batteries opened with so much
effect upon the bastion, in which a breach was to be made, that
the enemy proposed to capitulate, and on the 1 1 th of Novem-
ber both town and citadel were taken possession of by the
british troops. The garrison consisted of 8000 men, but of
these only 500 were Europeans ; and about 2000 were the troops
of Hyder Ali, who fled on the first charge made on the ene-
my's lines.

The loss sustained by the British during the siege of Nega-
patam was 28 killed, and about 1 00 wounded. The marines and
seamen were re-embarked on the 24th, and on the 25th of Oc-
tober the squadron prepared for an attack of the dutch settle-
ment of Trincomale, which however did not take place until the
following year.

A severe action was fought by the Nonsuch of 64 guns, cap-
tain sir James Wallace, near the English Channel, on the 14th
of May, with the french 74-gun ship Actif. The Nonsuch had
chased from the squadron of vice-admiral Darby, and brought
the enemy's ship to action at lOh. 30m. p.m., and after engag-
ing an hour and a half close alongside, the enemy made off,
pursued by her antagonist. At 5 a.m. on the 15th the Nonsuch
renewed the action, which continued until the british ship was
so much disabled, that the Actif made her escape. The Non-
such had 26 men killed, and 64 wounded ; and the french ship
15 killed, and 38 wounded.

122 DE GRASSE OFF BASSETERRE.

On the 30th of May, at 5 a.m., the Flora of 36 guns, and
Crescent of 28 guns, captains W. P. Williams and the hon.
Thomas Pakenham, attacked two dutch frigates near Ceuta,
and after an action of two hours and a quarter, the opponent
of the Flora struck her colours. She proved to be the Castor of
32 guns, having 22 men killed and 41 wounded. The Flora
had 9 men killed, and 32 wounded. The Crescent engaged the
other ship for more than two hours ; but the enemy was so supe-
rior in force, that the british ship, after being greatly disabled,
was compelled to surrender. The Flora came up in time to
prevent the enemy from taking possession, and the latter, which
was the Brill of 32 guns, then made off. The Crescent lost her
mainmast, and sustained a loss of 12 killed, and 40 wounded.
The frigates and their prize, after refitting at Cadiz, sailed for
England, and on their passage both the Crescent and the Castor
were captured by two french frigates.

Rear-admiral Hood, suspecting that the comte de Grasse
would speedily return to the West Indies from the Chesapeake,
left Sandy Hook on the 11th of November with seventeen sail
of the line, and arrived at Barbadoes on the 5th of December,
where he was joined by the St. Alban's of 64 guns. He again
put to sea on the 14th with the whole fleet, and finding that the
enemy were at St. Christopher's, he bent his way to Antigua,
after being reinforced by the Prudent of 64, and Russell of 74
guns. The admiral then proceeded off Nevis, and on the 25th,
at day-break, the enemy's fleet was discovered to leeward on
the larboard tack, standing to the southward in line of battle a-
head, consisting of twenty-nine sail of the line, and two frigates.
Rear-admiral Hood, with his fleet of twenty-two of the line, ma-
noeuvred as if intending an attack, by which means he drew
the enemy further off shore ; and when they were at some dis-
tance from Basseterre road, the british admiral made a push to
occupy the anchoring ground the enemy had quitted, and hav-
ing fortunately succeeded in this bold attempt, he saved the
island from capture.

TRINCOMALE ATTACKED. 123

The comte de Grasse, on perceiving his error, crowded after,
and endeavoured to cut off the rear of the british squadron,
which consisted of the Russell, Resolution, Bedford, Canada,
President, and Montagu, and at about three o'clock, he made
a furious attack on those ships; but notwithstanding his vast
superiority, after engaging for nearly three hours, he was com-
pelled to draw off, and stand to the southward.

At daylight on the 26th, the french fleet were seen forming
their line off Nevis Point, and at about 8 a. m. they stood towards
the british squadron. At nine they began their attack on the
van, and continued along the whole line, wearing round after
they passed the eternmost ship, and then stood to the south-
ward. At one p. m. the enemy tacked, and again standing
towards the British, opened their fire upon the centre at 2 h.
50 m. p. m., and then proceeding on to the rear, they wore
round as before. Neither of these attacks made much impres-
sion on our line, but the French suffered considerably. Captain
Strickland, and lieutenants Forster and Griffiths, of the marines,
were wounded.

1 After the capture of Negapatam, the tempestuous state

of the weather retarded the intended departure of the
squadron of sir Edward Hughes to attack the dutch settlement
of Trincomale, in the island of Ceylon ; but the squadron having
embarked 30 artillery men, and 500 volunteer sepoys, put to sea
on the 3rd of January from the roads of Negapatam, and ar-
rived in the bay of Trincomale on the 4th. Early in the morn-
ing the marines, with 2 six-pounders, were landed, and soon af-
terwards 800 seamen were disembarked, followed by the sepoys ;
and before it became dark, the whole force pushed forward to-
wards Trincomale fort. On the same night the grenadier com-
pany of the marines, led by lieutenant Orr, made themselves
masters of the fort, by forcing an entry through the gateway at
the moment the governor was preparing terms of capitulation.
The garrison consisted of only 3 officers and 40 men ; but the
possession of the fort was important to the future operations of

124 ASSAULT OF TRINCOMaLE.

the enterprise, as it commanded the only safe landing for stores
and provisions from the ships. On the 8th the seamen and
marines carried a post situated on the top of a high hill com-
manding Fort Ostenburg, which fortress was also on the summit
of a neis;hbourino; eminence that commanded the harbour. Sir
Edward Hughes, after sending a second summons to the gover-
nor without success, ordered the immediate preparation for an
assault on the morning of the 11th. Accordingly the storming
party, consisting of 450 seamen and marines, having on their
flanks a party of pioneers, with 20 seamen carrying scaling-
ladders, and a reserve of three companies of seamen and three
of marines, supported by two field-pieces and the Company's
troops, advanced at daylight towards the fort. A Serjeant's
party of marines led the attack, and getting through the em-
brasures, the Dutch were soon driven from their works and the
fort gained, with the loss on our part of lieutenant George Long
of the navy, and 20 sailors and marines killed ; and lieutenant
Samuel Wolseley of the navy, lieutenant Samuel Orr of the ma-
rines, officiating as brigade-major, and 40 men wounded. The
fort mounted above 50 guns, and contained a garrison of 400
men. In the harbour there were two valuable East-Indiamen,
and 30 smaller vessels. Sir Edward Hughes, in his official re-
port, thus expresses himself on the conduct of the marines: —
" The whole of the officers who have been landed from the
squadron for the attack of Negapatam and Trincomale, have
on all occasions manifested much honour, courage, and good
conduct; and the private seamen and marines have acted with
great steadiness and bravery."

Leaving a garrison in the fort of Ostenburg, the vice-admiral
sailed for Madras, where he arrived on the 8th of February, and
was informed of the arrival upon the coast of a french fleet,
which made its appearance on the 15th, consisting of twelve
ships of the line, six frigates, and eight large ships en flute;
whilst the British were only eight of the line, and one of 50
guns, with one ship of 20 guns. Sir Edward immediately got

HUGHES AND DE SUFFREN. 125

under weigh in pursuit of the enemy, who separated on the 16th
from their convoy, six of which were captured.

At 6 a. m. on the 17th, the french squadron under commo-
dore de Suffren were seen approaching under a crowd of sail ;
but the wind dying away, the action did not commence until
4 p. m., when they were engaged with the rear and centre of
our squadron, but principally with the Superb, Exeter, and
Hero. The engagement continued until dusk, when the enemy
hauled their wind, and stood to the north-east. The Superb
had 11 killed, — her captain, William Stevens, mortally, and 13
wounded. The Exeter, captain H. Reynolds, 9 killed and 45
wounded : total 32 killed, 83 wounded.

The british squadron saw nothing of their opponents, and ar-
rived at Madras on the 12th of March. After taking; on board
supplies, they sailed for Trincomale, and having been joined by
the Sultan of 74 guns, and Magnanime of 64, from England,
sir Edward Hughes on the 30th kept his course, neither shun-
ning nor seeking the enemy.

On the 18th of April, the french fleet was discovered to lee-
ward in the north-east ; but sir Edward continued his course,
whilst the enemy kept their relative position until the 11th,
when the British, by bearing away for Trincomale, allowed
M. de Suffren to obtain the weather-gage, of which he profited ;
and on the 12th at daylight, the enemy were seen advancing
under sail to the attack. After manoeuvring for some hours,
they bore down in two divisions, five ships attacking the van,
and the other seven, led by M. de Suffren against the centre of
the british line, formed in order of battle on the starboard tack.
The Superb was at first closely engaged by the french commo-
dore and another ship of 74 guns, but they were so roughly
handled that they stood on to attack the Monmouth ; who,
with her main and mizen-masts shot away, had suffered so
severely that she fell out of the line to leeward, warmly engaged
by her opponents, until the Superb, Monarca, and Sultan ran
down, and covered the crippled ship from the destructive fire of

126 UNDECISIVE RESULT.

the enemy. The cannonade continued until 6 p.m., when the
french squadron drew off in disorder to the eastward ; and the
british ships shortly afterwards came to an anchor.

At daylight on the 12th, the French were perceived also at
anchor about five miles distant ; in which situation both squa-
drons remained several days repairing their damages, anxiously
watching the motions of each other. On the morning of the
19th, the enemy got under sail and stood towards the British,
but soon tacked, and making sail to the eastward, were out of
sight by the evening.

The Superb and Monmouth suffered more than any other
ships. The great loss of men of the latter is almost unequalled
on board of a ship of her class ; having 45 men killed, and
102 wounded. The Superb had two lieutenants, her master,
with 56 men killed, and 96 wounded. Lieutenants of marines,
Thomas Milrea of the Monmouth, and John Dixon of the Bur-
ford, were killed. The total loss in the british squadron on the
12th of April, was 137 men killed, and 430 wounded.

Although these actions were not decisively in favour of the
British, yet they were of great importance in their consequences.
Hyder Ali had relied on seeing our small squadron defeated
by the powerful naval force opposed to it ; but the result of
these two contests, and the capture of the french convoy with
the artillery and stores on board, deeply impressed the indian
princes with a conviction of the vast superiority of the British
in all naval affairs, as well as of their invincible courage and
fortitude : at the same time recalling to their recollection, the
battles fought by the gallant Pocock against a superior force
under comte d'Ache, whom he compelled to quit the indian
seas.

M. de Suffren, having refitted his ships at Batacalo, returned
to the coast of Coromandel in the early part of June ; and hav-
ing touched at the danish settlement of Tranquebar, he pro-
ceeded to Cuddalore, which place had been strongly fortified by
the French.

THIRD ATTACK BY SIR EDWARD HUGHES. 127

M. de Suffren, on learning that sir Richard Bickerton was
expected in the indian seas from England with a reinforcement,
resolved to make another attack on the force under sir Edward
Hughes, and in order to strengthen his crews, he received on
board 400 french infantry, as many sepoys, and 300 artillery.

The british admiral sailed from the bay of Trincomale on
the 23rd of June, and anchored his squadron off Negapatam on
the following day. On the 5th of July the french squadron
made its appearance, on which the British put to sea and
stood to the southward, in order to gain the wind of the enemy.
On the 6th of July, at daylight, the French were discerned at
anchor, distant about seven miles on the north-north-east, and
the wind a light breeze from the south-west. At 6 a.m., the
enemy having weighed and stood to the eastward, the vice-ad-
miral was induced to form his squadron in line of battle a-head ;
and at seven a.m. the signal was made to bear up in line
abreast, and for each ship to engage the one opposed to her in
the enemy's line. At 10 h. 45 m. a.m. the enemy opened their
fire, which was instantly returned by the British; and from
11 h. 10 m. to 35 minutes past noon, the engagement was
general. Shortly afterwards there appeared to be great con-
fusion on board several of the french ships, and the Brilliant, the
second a-head of M. de Suffren, had lost her main-mast. At
this crisis, when fortune seemed to have decided the contest in
favour of the English, the sea breeze sat in very fresh at south-
south-east. Several of the british ships were taken aback, and
came round with their heads to the westward ; whilst the others
paid off, and continued on their former tack. The effect was
somewhat the same on the enemy's squadron; and both ad-
mirals collected their ships as well as their disabled condition
would permit. As the Monarca and Hero were so much
damaged as to be incapable of taking their station, sir Edward
Hughes wore round, and steered to the westward with his squa-
dron, whilst the engagement still continued to be partially
maintained. At 2 p.m. the french ships stood in shore, and at

128 FINAL RESULT.

6 p.m. came to an anchor. The british squadron anchored about
three leagues to windward, in so shattered a condition as to be
incapable of pursuing the enemy, who reached Cuddalore with-
out further molestation.

The following is a statement of the killed and wounded in
the british squadron on the 6th of July, 1782, with the names
of the officers of marines on board the respective ships :
Hero, 74 guns, captain C. Wood, 12 killed, 23 wounded. Cap-
tain Thomas Lewis, second-lieutenant George Thompson.
Exeter, 64 guns, commodore Richard King, captain C. Hughes,
1 1 killed, 24 wounded. Lieutenants Thomas Corbyn, and
George Palmer.
Isis, 50 guns, captain hon. T. Lumley, 9 killed, 19 wounded.

Captain Robert Carter, lieutenant Richard Lee.
Burford, 70 guns, captain P. Rainier, 7 killed, 34 wounded.

Captain Jenkinson, 98th regiment (killed).
Sultan, 74 guns, captain James Watts, 16 killed, 21 wounded.
Captain William Hamilton Gibbons, lieutenant Richard
Williams (wounded).
Superb, 74 guns, vice-admiral sir Edward Hughes, captain D.
McLellan (killed), 7 killed, 19 wounded. Lieutenant Sa-
muel Orr, (wounded 3rd of September).
Monarca, 70 guns, captain J. Gell, 8 killed, 46 wounded. Cap-
tain Robert Clugston, lieutenant A. D. Barrett, (both killed
on the 3rd of September).
Worcester, 64 guns, captain George Talbot, 1 killed, 9 wounded.
Lieutenant Johnston (wounded), second-lieutenant Devreux
Edwards, (killed 3rd September).
Monmouth, captain James Alms, 12 wounded. Captain Thomas

Pearce, lieutenant Benjamin Mounier.
Eagle, 64 guns, captain John Reddal, 4 killed, 9 wounded.

Lieutenants Joseph Lambrecht, John Norman.
Magnanime, 64 guns, captain Charles Wolsely, 2 killed, 17
wounded. Captain William Adlam, lieutenant Thomas Rolf.
Total, — 77 killed, and 233 wounded.

HUGHES AND DE SUFFREN.

129

After refitting in Madras roads, sir Edward put to sea on the
20th of August, with the addition to his squadron of the
Sceptre 64 guns, captain Samuel Graves. The admiral's first
iesign was to protect our garrison at Trincomale, and cover the
squadron of sir Richard Bickerton, whose arrival from England
was hourly expected ; but M. de Suffren having united his
force to the ships under M. d'Aymar, they proceeded to the
attack of the british posts at Trincomale, which surrendered to
the French, after a short defence, on the 30th of August.

On account of the southerly winds, Sir Edward Hughes did
not arrive off Trincomale until the 2nd of September, where he
found the enemy's squadron of fourteen ships of the line, a
50-gun ship, and three frigates anchored in the bay. Early on
the 3rd they put out to sea, with a strong breeze at S.W. which
placed them to windward of the British, who, formed in line of
aattle a-head, received the attack of the enemy at 10 h. 30 m.
a..m. ; but it was not until 2 p.m. that the action commenced

The superiority in numbers of the French enabled them to
place additional ships against the extremities of our line, and
by these means the Worcester and Monmouth, the rearmost
ships, were furiously assailed ; as were the Exeter and Isis in
the van. The cannonade was kept up with great vigour until
5 h. 30 m. p.m., when the wind shifting suddenly from S.W. to
E. S. E., Sir Edward Hughes made the signal to wear, which
svolution was performed in the most admirable order, whilst the
French also came round on the other tack. The engagement
svas renewed with great spirit, and with such effect on the part
jf the British, that at 6 h. 30 m. p.m. the main and mizen-
masts of the Heros, the ship of M. de Suffren, were shot away,
ind about the same time the Worcester's main top-mast came
iown: about 7 h. p.m. the body of the french squadron hauled
their wind to the southward, exposed for some time to the fire
}f the british ships in the rear.

Considering how closely the ships were engaged, it is surpris-
ing that the loss on the part of the British amounted to no
vol. I. k

130

RODKEYT AND DE GRASSE.

more than 51 killed, and 283 wounded ; but the number of
officers was great beyond example. Captains Wood of the
Worcester, Watt of the Sultan, were mortally wounded; and
Lumley of the Isis fell during the action. On board the

Superb, 4 men were killed; lieutenant Samuel Orr of the ma-
rines, wounded, lieutenant Thompson of the 98th regiment,
and 49 men wounded.

Sultan, 4 killed ; lieutenant Stewart of the 78th regiment, and
43 wounded.

Monarca, captain Robert Clugstone, with lieutenant Barrett of
the marines, and 4 men were killed; the hon. captain
Maitland of the 78th regiment, and 12 wounded.

Worcester, lieutenant Edwards of the marines and 4 men killed,
and 16 wounded.

The great object of the french and Spanish forces in the West
Indies was the reduction of Jamaica ; and in order to frustrate
their design, Admiral Rodney resumed his command on that
station, and arrived off Barbadoes from England on the 19th
of January, with a reinforcement of twelve sail of the line. The
admiral learning that St. Christopher's had fallen, proceeded to
St. Lucia, where he was lying at anchor on the 8th of April,
when information reached him of the sailing of the french fleet
under the comte de Grasse from Port Royal, consisting of
thirty-three ships of the line and two ships of 50 guns, having a
large body of troops on board. The british fleet, consisting of
thirty-six sail of the line and three ships of 50 guns, imme-
diately got under weigh ; and at daylight on the morning of the
9th, part of the enemy was seen between Dominica and the
Saintes ; whilst the remainder, with a numerous fleet of trans-
ports, were lying becalmed in Prince Rupert's bay. As soon as
the breeze sprang up, the enemy stood away towards Guada-
loupe, followed by the van of the English under sir Samuel
Hood, whilst the body of the fleet was still lying becalmed.

The comte de Grasse, perceiving the separation of the van
division of the British from their centre and rear, bore down

BATTLE OF THE 12tH APRIL. 131

upon it, and for some time those eight ships were engaged with
fifteen of the enemy. About noon the breeze reached the ships
under sir George Rodney, when they immediately tacked and
closed with those under sir Samuel Hood, who was again en-
gaged with the enemy ; but the comte de Grasse, on the ap-
proach of the british line, hauled his wind, and at 1 p.m. his
ships tacked in succession.

During the 10th the French continued in sight, but at a con-
siderable distance to windward. At daylight on the 11th two
of the enemy's ships were so far to leeward of their fleet, that
admiral Rodney, in order to cut them off, made a signal for a
general chase ; upon which the comte de Grasse bore down to
their support. At 6 p. m. the British, were about three leagues
to leeward of the french fleet, which then consisted of thirty-
one ships of the line ; its number having been diminished by
two ships, which were so disabled on the 9 th as to put into
Basseterre to refit.

At day-break on the 12th of April, the enemy's fleet was to
windward of the Saintes, steering to the northward with a fresh
breeze ; and one of their ships with loss of foremast and bow-
sprit, in tow of a frigate, was standing in for Guadaloupe. After
an attempt to cut off this disabled ship, which the french ad-
miral supported by bearing away to her assistance, the two
fleets formed their lines upon opposite tacks, and the french
van was a little to windward of the British.

About eight o'clock the action commenced, by the centre and
rear of the enemy with the van and centre of the English, and
it continued until 10 a. m., at which time rear-admiral Drake's
division had passed their rear. At this period the van of the
French, and the centre and rear of the British, had but little
wind from the southward, which occasioned an alteration in the
course of that part of the enemy's fleet; and by compelling its
van to steer to the westward, whilst the rear continued its
course to the southward, it completely deranged the french line
of battle, and formed the opening in which admiral Rodney

132

THE FRENCH DEFEATED.

found his ship and some part of his division, when the firing
ceased, and the smoke cleared away about noon. The van of
the French, by steering to the westward in consequence of the
southerly breeze, was forced into action with the british rear j
whilst the centre of the latter, by changing its course with the
alteration of the wind, steered to the eastward, instead of the
northerly course it had been pursuing. This also ©ccasioned a
division in the british line, whilst thirteen ships of the french
rear were between the british van of seventeen, and admiral
Rodney with six of the centre division. These six ships had
also five of the enemy under comte de Grasse on the other side
of them, and the french admiral was completely cut off from
the rest of his fleet by rear-admiral Hood's division, then en-
gaged with the van of the French. Thus, by a fortuitous cir-
cumstance, the fleets became divided into three different parts,
entirely separated by ships of the opposing fleet intervening.

About noon all firing had ceased, and the French, endeavour-
ing to unite, bore up together, pursued by the British, who
attacking the disabled ships of the enemy, soon compelled them
to yield. At about a quarter past noon, the Glorieux of 74
guns struck her colours on the approach of british ships. The
Cesar, 74, was next taken possession of by the Centaur, after a
gallant resistance ; whilst the Hector, 74, struck to the Alcide.
The Canada was engaged with the Ville de Paris of 110 guns,
bearing the flag of admiral de Grasse, until sir Samuel Hood
in the Barfleur came up, when the french admiral struck his
colours, after sustaining a severe loss in killed and wounded.
About this time, just as the sun was sinking below the horizon,
the Ardent of 64 guns (which had been captured off Plymouth
by the combined fleet), struck to the Belliqueux ; and the
british admiral, considering the french fleet completely defeated,
gave over the pursuit.

As there was a probability that the disabled ships might be
fallen in with, the admiral detached sir Samuel Hood with his
division, who on the 19th discovered five sail in the Mona pas-

BOMBARDMENT OF GIBRALTAR.

133

sage, wnich separates Porto Rico from Hispaniola, After a
pursuit of several hours, the Valiant and Magnificent, being
considerably a-head of the squadron, captured the Caton and
the Jason of 64 guns. Those ships made a gallant resistance,
and sustained a heavy loss, whilst their opponents had only 8
killed, and 14 wounded.

The total loss of the British was 240 men killed, and 797
men wounded. The officers of marines included in this return
were as follow : —

Royal Oak, captain William Bird, wounded ; Magnificent,

captain Baggs, wounded; Repulse, captain Henry Bell,

wounded ; Torbay, lieutenant Mounier, killed ; Princessa,

lieutenant Laban, wounded ; Montagu, lieutenant Buchan,

wounded.

In the early part of the year, vast preparations were made

by the king of Spain for the reduction of Gibraltar, in forming

floating batteries, supported by the combined fleet of France

and Spain; and 12,000 french troops, under the due de Crillon,

joined the Spanish army.

On the 8th of September, general Elliot ordered a powerful
fire to be opened on the enemy's works on the land side ; and
on the following day a new battery, mounting 64 heavy guns,
added to the other cannon and 60 mortars on the Spanish
lines, continued to pour an incessant fire against the garrison,
whilst a squadron of nine sail of the line and some frigates
attacked the sea defences of the rock.

At length the combined fleets, consisting of twenty-seven
Spanish and twelve french ships of the line, arrived in Algesiras
from Cadiz; and having joined those already before Gibraltar,
this powerful armament amounted to forty-eight ships of the
line, added to the ten floating batteries, mounting 154 pieces
of heavy brass cannon; and their crews, with the artillery on
board those formidable vessels, were not less than six thou-
sand men.

On the 13th of September, the battering ships took their

134 FLOATING BATTERIES DESTROYED.

stations between the new and old mole, parallel with the rock,
and about half a mile distant from it. The attention of general
Elliot was principally directed to the effect of the red-hot shot
upon the battering ships, but at the same time the whole penin-
sula seemed to be overwhelmed by the torrents of fire which
poured upon it. About two o'clock in the morning, the admi-
ral's ship was observed to be on fire, and shortly afterwards a
second ship was in flames. Through the whole night of the
13th the fire was continued by the garrison without intermis-
sion, and when daylight appeared, a dreadful scene presented
itself; the flames continued to rage on board the battering
ships, and the men were seen imploring pity and assistance.
The governor having humanely ordered a cessation of the can-
nonade, the boats from the rock assisted in rescuing the Spa-
niards from the destruction which was at hand ; and by the in-
trepidity of captain Curtis of the navy, and his gallant followers,
above 400 of the enemy were extricated from their perilous
situation. Nine battering ships blew up, and the tenth was
destroyed by the British. The impression made on the enemy
by the resistance of the garrison is strongly depicted in the fol-
lowing extract of a letter from a french officer : — " The eye is
fatigued with the sight, and the heart, is rent with the groans of
the dying and wounded. Their number makes me thrill with
horror ; and I am told that in other parts of the lines, not within
my view, the number is still greater."

The loss of the garrison was comparatively small : the whole
number between the 9th of August to the 17th of October,
being 65 slain, and the wounded 388 ; nor was the danger done
to the works very considerable.

About the time of the attack, lord Howe sailed from England
with thirty-four ships of the line, escorting a fleet of transports
laden with troops and supplies for the garrison; but owing to
contrary winds they did not reach the straits until the 11th of
October, and on the 18th this powerful armament entered the
bay, in presence of the combined fleets of France and Spain.

RUBY AND SOLITAIRE. 135

On the 14th of September the Rainbow of 44 guns, captain
Trollope, cruising off the Isle of Bas, captured the french 40-
gun frigate Hebe, after a short action, in which the french ship
had 5 killed, and several wounded ; but the Rainbow sustained
no injury, and had only one man killed.

The Santa Margarita, captain Elliot Salter, being on a cruise
near Cape Henry, on the 29th of July brought to action the
french 36-gun frigate Amazone. At 5 h. p. m., when within
musket-shot, the enemy's ship opened her fire, and wore round
on the same tack as the Santa Margarita : both then gradually
closed until within pistol-shot of each other, in which position
the action was maintained for an hour and a quarter ; when the
Amazone surrendered, with loss of main and mizen-masts, her
captain, the vicomte de Montguiote, and 70 men killed, and
more than that number wounded. The Santa Margarita had 5
men killed, and 17 wounded.

Lieutenant Frederick Hill Flight, and second-lieutenant
Thomas Dyne, were the officer of marines on board the Santa
Margarita.

On the 6th of December the Ruby of 64 guns, captain John
Collins, having chased from the squadron under sir Richard
Hughes, near Barbadoes, captured the french 64-gun ship Soli-
taire, commanded by the chevalier de Borda, after a close action
of forty minutes, during which the enemy lost her mizen-mast,
and had 20 men killed, and 35 wounded. The Ruby had only
2 men slightly wounded, but her masts, sails, and rigging were
much injured. Captain Collins was honoured with knighthood
for his gallant conduct in this action. The officers of marines
in the Ruby were, captain Jonas Matthews, lieutenant Solomon
Debrisay, and second-lieutenant Mark Oates.

While the fleet under earl Howe was equipping at Spithead
to proceed to the relief of Gibraltar, the Royal George of 108
guns was careened, that some defects under water might be
repaired. The ship, as usual on coming into port, was crowded
with people from the shore ; and among these were many wives

136

LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE.

and families resident in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth. In
this situation, about ten in the morning on the 29th of August,
while rear-admiral Kempenfelt was writing in his cabin, a sud-
den squall of wind threw the ship upon her broadside : the
ports being open, and the sudden motion of the cannon proba-
bly increasing the shock, she almost instantly filled with water
and sank. The rear-admiral; Mr. Saunders, first-lieutenant; Mr.
Waghorne, 5th lieutenant; major John Graham, first-lieute-
nants Richard Graham and Adam Currie, and second-lieutenant
William Smith of the marines, the master, carpenter, surgeon,
three master's mates, and all the midshipmen except four, with
above 800 persons, are supposed to have perished. Upwards of
300 persons, including captain Waghorne, were saved. The
Royal George was launched in 1 755, and was a favourite ship,
having carried the flag of admiral Boscawen ; and of lord
Hawke on the 20th of November, 1759, when he defeated the
french fleet under Conflans in Quiberon bay.

The honourable captain James Luttrell, in the Mediator of
44 guns, when cruising offFerrol, on the 12th of December fell
in with a squadron of five ships of war bound to Port-au-Prince,
consisting of PEugene of 36 guns, an american brig of 14 guns,
the Menagere, a large ship en flute, mounting 30 guns, laden
with stores and ammunition ; next to this ship was placed the
Alexander, 24 guns, under american colours, and the nearmost
of their line was the Dauphin Royal of 28 guns. At 10 a. m. the
enemy opened their fire, as the Mediator bore down upon them ;
and on their being obliged to tack and wear, the british ship
was enabled to close with her opponents ; upon which the brig
and the Dauphin Royal stood away under a crowd of sail. At
eleven the Mediator cut off' the Alexander from her consorts,
and pouring in her broadside, compelled the enemy to strike
her colours. The other two ships, after firing a few guns,
made off before the wind. About noon, as soon as the prison-
ers were exchanged, captain Luttrell went in pursuit of the
Menagere and Eugene ; but the latter having separated, her

FOURDROVANT AND P&GASE. 137

consort was pursued until 9 p. m., when the Menagere, being
within gun-shot, hauled down her colours.

The Mediator was much cut up in her masts and rigging, but
suffered no loss. The Alexander had 6 killed and 9 wounded,
and the Menagere 3 killed and 7 wounded. Lieutenant Ran-
kine of the marines was serving on board the Mediator.

On the 2nd of January, the 32-gun frigate Magi-
cienne, captain Thomas Graves, in company with the
Endymion frigate, escorting a convoy to the West Indies,
chased two suspicious sail. At 12 h. 30 m. a. m., the Magi-
cienne opened her fire, and after a few broadsides her opponent
surrendered. The Magicienne then stood on, and brought the
headmost ship to action, which continued until 2 h. 30 m. p. m.,
when the british ship's mizen-mast and main-topmast came
down, and in another five minutes the fore and main-masts fol-
lowed. The Endymion soon arrived up, cheered, and passed
on in pursuit of the enemy, which was the Sybille of 40 guns,
having about 300 supernumerary seamen on board, bound to the
Chesapeake. The Magicienne lost 3 officers, and 16 seamen and
marines killed ; her first-lieutenant, 1 midshipman, her boat-
swain, lieutenants Henry Reddish Furzer and William Minto,
of the marines, and 29 wounded, out of a crew of 189 men.

The fleet under vice-admiral Barrington, consisting of twelve
sail of the line, had nearly reached Ushant on their way down
Channel on the 5th of April, when several vessels hove in sight,
and the signal was immediately made for a general chase.
About sunset the strangers were discovered to be three or four
ships of war, and seventeen sail of convoy. At half-past nine
the sternmost ship, on perceiving that the Fourdroyant of 80
guns, captain Jervis (afterwards earl St. Vincent), was gaining
fast upon her, bore away, and was pursued by the british fleet.
It came on to blow fresh, which occasioned the Fourdroyant to
separate from the squadron, and at 12 h. 47m. a.m. on the 6th
she brought the french 74-gun ship Pegase to close action,
and continued to engage her until 1 h. 30 m. a. m., when she

138 SUCCESS AND SANTA CATALINA.

laid her on board on the larboard quarter, and compelled the
french ship to surrender, having 80 men killed and 40 wounded,
whilst the Fourdroyant had only 3 men wounded. The officers
of marines of the Fourdroyant were, first-lieutenant JohnHobbs,
second-lieutenant Richard Murphy.

At daylight on the 16th of March, the Success of 32 guns,
captain Maurice Pole, when off Cape Spartel, in company with
the Vernon store-ship, captured the Spanish 32-gun frigate
Santa Catalina, of 34 guns, after an action of two hours, in
which the Vernon took but little part. The Spanish ship had
25 men killed, and only 8 wounded ; and her masts were so
disabled, that the fore and main-masts fell soon after she sur-
rendered. The Success had only 1 man killed, and 4 wounded.
Lieutenant Pownal was the officer of marines on board the
Success.

The year closed with negotiations for a general peace, the
provisionary articles of which were mutually signed at Paris, by
commissioners from Great Britain and America, on the 22rtd of
November. These arrangements were shortly followed by the
exchange of preliminary articles with France and Spain, on the
20th of January, 1783.

The establishment of the corps was now reduced to 4495
men, but in 1784 four companies were added to provide for the
expedition to Botany bay. Nothing of importance occurred
until the period of the french revolution in 1792, which event
produced a renewal of hostilities, and consequently a consider-
able augmentation in the marines.

139

CHAPTER IV.

From the year 1792 to 1796.

The most important matter that employed the attention of the
House of Commons in the early part of the year 1792, was a
message from his Majesty, presented by Mr. Pitt on the 28th
of January, which in fact announced the commencement of hos-
tilities against France.

In almost every war between Great Britain and France, the
West India islands have been among the first and principal
scenes of contest, and the efforts of the british minister were
again directed to that quarter of the world, with considerable
hope of success ; for these islands, generally, were badly de-
fended, and the French were too much occupied in preserving
their own territories in Europe, to provide adequate means of
protection for their distant possessions ; and as the black popu-
lation of the colonies was strongly incensed against their em-
ployers, the british government confidently anticipated a speedy
and easy reduction of the french West India islands.
17QQ ^n ^e l^tii of April an attack was made upon the
island of Tobago by vice-admiral Laforej^ in the Trusty
of 50 guns, and some small craft, conveying 470 troops, includ-
ing 32 marines under major Richard Bright, from Barbadoes.
The landing was effected on the 14th; and on the 15th, after
assaulting the fort of Scarborough, which was garrisoned by 200
men under a lieutenant-colonel of the french 32nd regiment,
the island became again a dependency of Great Britain.

An attempt was next made on Martinique by rear-admiral
Gardner with three ships of the line and a fleet of transports,
having on board 1100 british, and 800 french-royalist troops,

140 SURRENDER OF ST. DOMINGO.

who were landed on the 16th and 17th; and on the 18th the
united forces moved forward in two columns to the attack, the
two batteries defending the town of St. Pierre. Owing to some
confusion among the royalists they fired upon each other, and
then retreated to the place of debarkation, followed by the
English ; and the admiral was compelled to re-embark in great
haste, whilst many hundreds, who had espoused the royalist
cause, took refuge on board the ships, to avoid the cruel ven-
geance of their adversaries.

The revolted state of the inhabitants in St. Domingo induced
the better disposed to seek for british protection ; and in conse-
quence of information brought to commodore Ford, commanding
the naval forces at Jamaica in the 50-gun ship Europa, and some
small frigates, that officer arrived near the harbour of Cape
Nicolas Mole on the 21st of September; and finding that the
inhabitants were apprehensive of an attack from the mulattoes
and blacks, the commodore sent on shore terms of capitulation
similar to those agreed upon at the surrender of Jeremie. Soon
after daylight the next morning this proposal was returned,
duly executed ; and the Europa having proceeded to the anchor-
age, the town and its extensive dependencies surrendered to his
britannic Majesty.

The marines of the Europa, under major Robinson, were the
only british force on shore for several days in this important
service ; and they continued there until the arrival of troops from
Jamaica.

The first encounter since the commencement of the war was
on the 13th of May, when the 32-gun frigate Iris fell in with the
french frigate Citoyenne Frangaise of 32 guns, off Bordeaux,
and after engaging her from 6h. 30m. p.m. until 8 a.m., the
stranger hauled her tacks on board, and shot a-head. At this
moment, when the Iris was preparing to make sail in pursuit,
her foremast, main top-mast, and mizen-mast went over the
side. The Iris had 4 men killed, and 32 wounded ; whilst the
enemy sustained a loss of 15 killed, and 37 wounded.

VENUS AND SEM ILL ANTE.

141

On the 27th of May, the Venus of 32 guns, captain J. Faulk-
nor, when one hundred and twenty-five leagues to the westward
of Cape Finisterre, discovered the french 36-gun frigate Semil-
lante. At 8 a.m. the Venus opened her fire, and a warm action
was maintained on both sides, as the ships gradually approach-
ed, until 10 a.m., when they were scarcely half a cable's length
asunder.

By this time the Semillante had suffered severely in her masts
and rigging, with a loss of 12 men killed, and 20 wounded ; and
when the Venus was endeavouring to run her alongside, a stran-
ger, under french colours, hove in sight to leeward, on which the
Semillante bore up to join her. This terminated the action, and
the Venus hauled to the wind as well as her crippled state would
permit, having sustained a loss of 2 killed, and 20 wounded. A
party of the 2nd regiment of foot was serving as marines on
board the Venus.

The consort of the Semillante was the twelve-pounder 36-gun
frigate Cleopatre, captain Mullon, of which we have to give a
further account, by relating her proceedings in the ensuing
month, when cruising off the Start. On the 18th of June, at 4
a.m., the Cleopatre was discovered by the Nymphe of 36 guns,
eighteen-pounders, captain Edward Pellew, and immediately
chased ; but at 5 a. m., finding her adversary closing with her fast,
the Cleopatre hauled to the wind and, under top-sails, resolute-
ly awaited her approach. At 6h. 15m. a.m., when within hail,
both ships opened their fire, and the action continued with great
fury until 7 a.m., both frigates running before the wind. The
wheel and mizen-mast of the Cleopatre having been shot away,
she fell on board of her antagonist's head and stern; and at 7h.
10m. a.m. was boarded by a party from the Nymphe, who
struck the french national colours. The Cleopatre had her
captain killed, and her total loss amounted to 63 killed and
wounded. On board the Nymphe 23 men were killed ; lieute-
nant John Whitaker of the marines, and 26 men wounded.

The assemblage of a powerful fleet in the harbour of Toulon,

142 LORD HOOD AT TOULON.

made it necessary that a british naval force should be despatched
to the Mediterranean. Accordingly, a fleet in several divisions
proceeded to that station ; and on the 15th of August vice-admi-
ral lord Hood arrived before Toulon, with twenty-one sail of the
line and several frigates. The French had in that port, ready
for sea, seventeen ships of the line, four refitting, nine repairing,
and one on the stocks ; making a total of thirty sail of the line.
The fleet was commanded by rear-admiral the comte de Tregoff,
whose attachment to the ancient monarchy was in accordance
with the sentiments of a great portion of the inhabitants of the
southern provinces.

In order to encourage the loyalists to declare their sentiments,
lord Hood issued a preliminary declaration, in which he pledged
himself to support the people of Provence, provided the stand-
ard of royalty were hoisted, the ships in the harbour dismantled,
and free egress and regress allowed to the british fleet. In that
case, no private property of any individual, whatever his pre-
vious principles or conduct might have been, should be injured ;
and as England had no object in view but a firm and lasting
peace on liberal and honourable terms, his lordship solemnly
promised them, that the port, with all the ships and the forts of
Toulon, should be restored to France, when that object was ac-
complished.

He next addressed an animated proclamation to the towns
and provinces in the south of France, assuring them of the de-
termination of the coalesced powers to co-operate with the well
disposed, in putting down the tyrannous faction that governed
the country. The reply to this proclamation was favourable to
the admiral's wishes, and on the 27th of August lord Hood
landed 1500 troops, with 200 marines and seamen, near Fort la
Malgue, of which they immediately took possession, and cap-
tain Elphinstone of the Robust was appointed governor. On a
message being conveyed from the fort to the french rear-
admiral Julien, that such ships as did not proceed into the har-
bour would be treated as enemies, the crews abandoned their

HEIGHTS OF PHARON CARRIED. 143

ships, and about 5000 men and officers escaped into the inte-
rior. In the morning the ships moved into the harbour, and in
the afternoon the british and Spanish fleets (the latter, composed
of seventeen sail of the line, having recently arrived) anchored
together in the outer harbour of Toulon. A reinforcement of
1000 men from the Spanish fleet having been sent into Fort la
Malgue, rear-admiral Gravina took the command of the troops,
and rear-admiral Goodall was appointed governor of Toulon
and its dependencies.

On the 31st, captain Elphinstone, with 300 british and the
same number of Spanish troops, made a successful attack on a
french body of 800 infantry, with two pieces of cannon, near
Ollioules ; and after a slight resistance the enemy abandoned
the position, leaving their cannon and ammunition in the
hands of the British. In this affair captain Douglas of the
11th regiment was killed, and 13 wounded; and the Spaniards
lost 2 killed, and 3 wounded.

During the night of the 30th of September the republicans,
availing themselves of a thick fog, surprised a detachment of
Spanish troops, and took possession of the heights of Pharon,
immediately over Toulon ; but on the following day they were
driven from their new possession with great slaughter by the
allied troops under the command of brigadier-general Mulgrave,
assisted by rear-admiral Gravina and captain Elphinstone. Out
of 2000 men the republicans lost 1 500 in killed, wounded, and
missing. Of the combined forces 8 were killed, 72 wounded
and missing, and 48 prisoners. Buonaparte assisted in defending
a battery on the Pharon heights ; and for his skill and bravery
on that day he became so much noticed, that he was shortly
afterwards made a brigadier-general.

On the night of the 5th of October, a detachment of 50 Spa-
niards, 100 Piedmontese, 50 Neapolitans, and 408 British,
including 50 marines and a party of seamen, — the whole under
lieutenant-colonel Nugent, proceeded to the attack of three
batteries recently erected on the heights Des Moulins, and two

144

ATTACK ON FORT MULGRAVE.

to the southward on the height De Regnier ; all of which
menaced the shipping in the road : the force on these heights
consisted of more than 1200 men, besides 300 in the batteries.
The British, having gallantly marched up the difficult ascent,
stormed and carried the batteries with very little loss; and
after destroying the guns, they returned to their quarters with-
out molestation.

Towards the end of October, the third and last division of
Neapolitan troops arrived at Toulon, and the combined forces
were then as follows: — French royalists, 1542; Piedmontese,
1584; Neapolitans, 4,832; Spaniards, 6,840; British, 2,114;
making a total of 16,912 rank and file. Of this number not
more than 12,000 were effective, the remainder being sick in
the hospitals ; and of those fit for duty, three-fourths were ne-
cessarily distributed among the different posts, extending at
least fifteen miles, including several intermediate points; be-
tween most of which there was only a water communication.

The army of Kellerman had directed its march on Toulon,
and supposing that half of his force had arrived by the 9th of
October, there would then have been before the place 33,000
troops. General Dugommier had taken charge of the besieg-
ing army, having under him the generals Laharpe, Gamier,
Lapoype, Monnet, and though last, not least, Napoleon Buo-
naparte.

On the evening of the 15th of November the republican
troops made a vigorous attack on Fort Mulgrave, situated on
the heights of Balaguier : the first assault was directed against
the right, where the Spaniards were stationed, who retreated in
disorder, firing their muskets to create alarm. Major-general
O'Hara fortunately arriving at this moment from on board the
Victory, directed a company of the Royals to advance ; and these
gallant fellows instantly leaped the works, and routed the enemy
with the bayonet. The loss of the allies amounted to 61 in
killed and wounded, including among the latter captain Duncan
Campbell of the Rovals, who had commanded the detachment,

ATTACK ON THE HEIGHTS OF ARENES. 145

and lieutenant Lemoine of the royal artillery. The loss of the
French was supposed to amount to 600 in killed and wounded.

General Dugommier, having erected works on the heights of
Arenes, directly opposite to the fort of Malbousquet, on which
were mounted twenty pieces of cannon, established his camp
on the crest of another eminence, at a short distance in its rear ;
and as these guns greatly annoyed the garrison and endangered
the arsenal, which was contiguous to it, it was determined to
attack the enemy's position.

For this service a corps of 400 french royalists, 600 Spaniards,
600 Neapolitans, 300 Sardinians, and 300 British, forming a
total of 2200 men, under major-general Dundas, marched from
Toulon on the morning of the 30th of November. They as-
cended the heights with great difficulty, and succeeded at once
in driving the enemy from their guns; but the troops, misled by
their impetuosity, descended to the hollow in its rear in their
endeavour to carry the next eminence, to which the retreating
enemy had fled. Here the main body of Dugommier's army
attacked them, and not only compelled them to make a rapid
retreat, but to relinquish the battery which their valour had
won, and which they could have held, and carried off the guns,
had they remained in that position. The loss in this unfortu-
nate attack was severe on the part of the British, who had 20
killed, 90 wounded, and 98 missing. General O'Hara, in en-
deavouring to rally the troops, was wounded and taken prisoner,
and general Duo-ommier received a wound in the knee, when
repelling our attack.

By the early part of December the republican forces had
received such considerable reinforcements, that a council of war
decided on an immediate attack on the fortifications and town
of Toulon ; but whilst these measures were under consideration,
on the night of the 14th of December, in the midst of a heavy
storm, the French marched from their encampments in three
columns, each taking a route leading towards a different point,
so that their attack might be simultaneous. By two a. m. on
vol. i. l

146 EVACUATION OF TOULON.

the 16th, the besiegers had erected five batteries in front of Fort
Mulgrave, and continued to cannonade the works with consi-
derable effect until two a.m. on the 17th; when, under cover
of the dark and tempestuous weather, the enemy succeeded in
entering the fort by the Spanish side ; and although resisted by
the few remaining British under captain Conolly of the 18th
regiment, they compelled the remnant of the garrison (originally
not more than 700) to retire towards the shore of Balaguier.
During these operations, the column under general Lapoype
having succeeded in carrying all the posts upon the heights of
Pharon, the line of defence was broken upon in two of its
essential points, and the position was so commanding, that the
ships were compelled to retire to a place of greater safety.

Under these circumstances a council of war was held by the
British, when it was determined to evacuate Toulon, as soon as
proper arrangements could be made for that purpose. The
troops occupying the redoubt and the lunette of Pharon were
ordered to retire to the posts of Artigues and St. Catherine's,
whilst those of St. Antoine, St. Andre, Pomet, and the Mills
might be withdrawn ; but that of Malbousquet and Mississi
to be retained as long as possible. The french ships of war,
being armed, were to proceed to sea with the fleet, while
those in the harbour, together with the arsenal and magazines,
were to be destroyed.

The troops were withdrawn from the heights of Balaguier
without much interruption from the enemy, as were those of
the other posts deemed necessary to be evacuated. The pur-
posed retention of the forts of Malbousquet and Mississi was
prevented by the indiscretion of the Neapolitans, who aban-
doned them without orders, and deserting their posts, hastened
on board the ships in the utmost confusion and disorder. In
the course of the 18th, the remaining troops were concentrated
in the town and in the fort of La Malgue, ready to embark when
the conflagration of the shipping should take place.

The important service of destroying the ships and magazines

DESTRUCTION OF THE ARSENAL. 147

was entrusted to sir Sidney Smith, at his own particular request-
and on the same afternoon, taking with him a small lateen
vessel, in which he had recently arrived from Malta, and three
english and three Spanish gun-boats, sir Sidney proceeded to
the arsenal to prepare the combustibles required for the occa-
sion. The dock-yard gates had been judiciously closed and
secured, and the galley-slaves, amounting to about 800, for the
most part unchained, seemed to view these preparations with
vindictive satisfaction ; and as the guns of the tender and of a
gun-boat were pointed towards them, they remained quiet spec-
tators of the impressive scene. All this while the party of sir
Sidney Smith was exposed to a fire of shot and shell from
Malbousquet and the neighbouring hills, which tended to keep
the slaves, as well as the republicans in the town, in entire
subjection.

At 8 p. m. the Vulcan fire-ship, captain Charles Hare, was
towed into the basin; and at 10 p. m., on a preconcerted sig-
nal, the trains leading to the different magazines and store-
houses were set fire to, as well as the fire-ship. The flames
ascended in terrific grandeur, and the rapid spread of the fire,
almost overpowering by its heat, laid open to view all who were
aiding in this perilous service ; whilst the enemy, having dis-
tinct objects to point at, opened their batteries from every quar-
ter. At this juncture an unexpected and awful explosion took
place : the Spaniards, instead of scuttling, set fire to the Iris
frigate, containing several thousand barrels of powder, and its
effect shook one gun-boat to pieces, while another was blown
into the air ; but, providentially, only three of the crew were
killed.

The business of the arsenal completed, sir Sidney Smith and
his brave followers proceeded to the destruction of two 74 gun-
ships, filled with french prisoners, who being landed in a place
of safety, the Heros and Themistocle were set on fire. The
gallant officer and his party, having effected all that could be
done, were returning to the fleet, when another powder-vessel

l 2

148 BOSTON AND EMBUSCADE.

exploded close to them ; but, extraordinary as it must appear,
without doing any injury. The British were now so exhausted,
that they stood slowly out towards their friends, heeding little,
after their last narrow escape, the few ill-directed shots that
were fired from forts Balaguier and Aiguillette.

The commencement of the conflagration had been the signal
for evacuating the town, and under the direction of captain El-
phinstone, late governor of Fort la Malgue, the whole of the
troops embarked, and were on board the fleet by daylight on
the morning of the 19th, without sustaining any loss. The
fugitives from Toulon, to the amount of 14,877, men, women,
and children, received an asylum on board the british ships,
where they crowded to such an extent, that the Princess Royal
had 4000, and the Robust 3000 of those unhappy people. Of
the unfortunate who were left to the mercy of the enraged
republicans, above 5000 perished by the sword or the guillotine,
or were drowned in their endeavours to escape from the infu-
riated soldiery. Twenty sail of the line were lost to France :
three ships of 80 guns, and fourteen of 74 guns, were destroyed,
and the Commerce de Marseilles of 120 guns, with the Pompee
and Puissant of 74 guns, were brought to England.

In the latter part of July, the 32-gun frigate Boston, captain
George W. A. Courtenay, was cruising off New York, watching
the french 36-gun frigate Embuscade, captain J. B. F. Bompart,
lying in that harbour. In consequence of a hostile message
sent by captain Courtenay, the french frigate put to sea, and
on the morning of the 31st was seen coming down before the
wind, to accept the challenge. After some preparation, the
Embuscade, at 5h. 5 m. a.m., ranged along the weather side of
the Boston, and a furious action was maintained on both sides.
At 6 h. 20 m. a. m., captain Courtenay and lieutenant James
Edward Butler of the marines, while standing at the fore-part
of the quarter-deck, were killed by the same shot. By this
time the Boston had lost her main and mizen top-masts, and
was much disabled in her sails and rigging. Thus circum-

ATTACK ON FORNELLI. 149

stanced, with two of her lieutenants wounded, the british fri-
gate bore up and made sail, followed by the Embuscade until
eight a.m., when the french frigate hauled to the wind. The
Boston sustained a loss of 10 killed, and 24 wounded : the Em-
buscade 50 killed and wounded.

During the time that Toulon remained in possession of the
allies, a formidable insurrection existed in Corsica, and general
Paoli, the leader of the insurgents, having sought the aid of
the English ; commodore R. Linzee, with the Alcide and Cou-
rageux of 74, Ardent 64, Lowestoffe 32, and Nemesis 28, sailed
from Toulon for Villa Franca in the month of September.
Owing to some unexplained cause, the commodore delayed the
attack on the redoubt of Fornelli, which is situated about two
miles in advance of the town of San Fiorenzo, until the garri-
son had made such preparations as enabled them to defeat the
attempt. On the night of the 30th of September, the Ardent
was led into a situation to annoy the redoubt, and at the same
time covering the approach of the other ships. At 3 h. 30 m.
a.m. on the 12th of October, having opened her fire, she was
soon joined by the Alcide and Courageux, and the three ships
maintained a warm cannonade until 8 h. 15 m. a.m., without
any visible effect on the redoubt; but the Courageux and
Ardent had been unexpectedly opposed to a raking fire from the
town of San Fiorenzo, by which they were considerably da-
maged ; the Courageux having 2 killed and 13 wounded, the
Ardent 14 killed and 17 wounded, and the Alcide 9 men
wounded. The failure was attributable to a want of co-ope-
ration on the part of Paoli's adherents, who had undertaken,
simultaneously with the naval operations, to storm the forts on
the land side; but it is probable that the ill success was in
great measure occasioned by the tardiness of the commodore
in making the attack.

The great importance of the harbour of San Fiorenzo to
Great Britain, as a point of rendezvous for her Mediterranean

150 CONVENTION REDOUBT.

squadrons, suggested to lord Hood the propriety of assisting
the loyal part of the inhabitants in their attempt to expel the
French from the island. On the 24th of January the fleet and
transports with the troops, amounting to sixty sail, quitted the
bay of Hyeres, and proceeded to that of San Fiorenzo; but
the armament was driven to leeward by a heavy gale, and did
not reach Porto Ferrajo, in the island of Elba, until the 29th.
On the 5th of February the Alcide, Egmont, and Fortitude, of
74 guns, with Lowestoffe and Juno frigates, Avere detached to
a bay to the westward of Cape Mortella ; and on the evening
of the 7th, 1400 troops under major-general Dundas having
landed and taken possession of a height which commanded
the tower of Mortella, an attack was made upon it on the fol-
lowing day. The Fortitude and Juno, after engaging two hours
and a half, were compelled to withdraw, with a loss on board
the former of 6 men killed, and 56 wounded ; nor was the bat-
tering from the height attended with better success until some
additional guns were mounted, and then the brave garrison of
thirty-three men, commanded by enseigne le Tellier, was com-
pelled to surrender.

The post next attacked was the Convention redoubt, mount-
ing twenty-one pieces of heavy ordnance, and considered as
the key of San Fiorenzo. By surprising exertions, several
eighteen-pounders were placed on an eminence of very difficult
ascent, 700 feet above the level of the sea : this rocky ele-
vation was deemed inaccessible, but the seamen, by means of
blocks and tackles, contrived to haul up the guns, and a can-
nonade was unremittingly kept up during the 16th and 17th,
when the works were stormed ; but the greater part of the
garrison had retreated, and during the night passed over to the
town of San Fiorenzo, with their two frigates. On the 19th,
after sinking one of their frigates and burning the other, the
French evacuated the town of San Fiorenzo, and retreated to-
wards Bastia, leaving the British in possession of the former

SURRENDER OF CALVI. 151

place, as well as of the tower and batteries of Fornelli ; and the
seamen soon found means to weigh, and carry off the Minerve,
a fine frigate of 40 guns.

On the 4th of April, lord Hood arrived at the anchorage
before Bastia, and on the same evening the troops, guns, and
stores were landed ; and a detachment of seamen, commanded
by captain Horatio Nelson of the Agamemnon, disembarked
to the northward of the town. The total of the combined
forces, when landed, amounted to 1248 officers and men, ex-
clusive of about the same number of Corsicans under general
Paoli ; whilst the french and corsican troops in the garrison of
Bastia were about 3000. Lord Hood moored the fleet in the
form of a crescent, just out of the reach of the enemy's guns,
and the entrance to the harbour was effectually guarded by
gun-boats and armed launches.

After a siege of thirty-seven days, and four of negotiation,
the town and citadel of Bastia, with the several outposts, sur-
rendered. The loss sustained by the army was only 7 killed
and 21 wounded ; and that of the navy, lieutenant Carey
Tupper of the Victory, and 6 men killed ; lieutenant Andrews,
and 12 men wounded. On the 19th, captain Nelson, the senior
officer in the absence of lord Hood, (who with the fleet had
sailed to look after the Toulon squadron,) disembarked the
troops at Port Agra, situated about three miles from Calvi;
and on the same day lord Hood, arriving in Mortella Bay,
sent on shore a detachment of seamen under captains Hallowell
and Serecold. On the 27th, the Victory having arrived before
Calvi, seven of her lower-deck guns were landed, and the bat-
teries were soon opened ; but it was not until the siege had
lasted fifty-one days that general Casa-Bianca could be in-
duced to capitulate ; and on the 10th of August the garrison
of Calvi surrendered.

The loss on the part of the british army was 1 field-officer,
2 lieutenants, and 20 men killed ; 3 captains, 4 lieutenants, and
46 wounded. Of the navy, captain W. Serecold, 1 midship-

152 CRESCENT AND REUNION.

man, and 5 seamen were killed, and 6 seamen wounded. Cap-
tain Nelson was not reported wounded, although he lost the
sight of his right eye, from some particles of sand which had
been driven into it, by a shot striking the battery near him.

On the 20th of October the 36-gun frigate Crescent, captain
James Saumarez, was standing close along shore, off Cape Bar-
fleur; and just as the day dawned, she discovered to leeward
the french 36-gun frigate Reunion, captain F. A. Denian. The
Crescent immediately bore away, and in a short time ranged
up alongside the french frigate. In the early part of the
action which ensued, the Crescent, after losing her fore-top-
sail yard and then her fore-topmast, came round on the op-
posite tack, and brought her larboard guns to bear. The
Reunion, having lost her fore-yard and mizen topmast, was
exposed to several raking broadsides from her opponent ; and
after a gallant defence of two hours and ten minutes, in which
she had 33 killed and 48 severely wounded, the french frigate
struck her colours, just as the british 32-gun frigate Circe was
perceptible to leeward, using every exertion to close. Lieu-
tenant Henry Hodge was serving on board the Crescent, which
ship had only one man wounded.

On the 4th of October, the 32-gun frigate Thames, captain
James Cotes, being some degrees to the westward of Ushant,
engaged the french 40-gun frigate Uranie from 10 h. 30 m. a.m.,
until 2 h. 20 m. p.m., when the latter made off, leaving the
british frigate so much crippled as to be incapable of pursuit,
having 11 men killed, and 23 wounded. Whilst repairing her
damages, three french frigates and a brig hove in sight, and
the Thames was captured and carried into Brest. Lieutenant
Anthony Stransham was serving on board the Thames.

1794.

In the latter part of the month of January, 1794, vice-admiral
sir John Jervis, K.B. arrived at Barbadoes as the commander-
in-chief on that station, accompanied by lieutenant-general sir

OPERATIONS IN THE WEST INDIES. 153

George Grey with 7000 troops; and on the 5th of February,
the expedition arrived off Martinique, consisting of the follow-
ing ships of war : — Boyne 98 guns, Vengeance and Irresistible
of 74 guns, Asia and Veteran of 64, with several frigates and
sloops. The troops were disembarked at three different points,
and the respective divisions overcame all opposition. By the
16th of March the whole island, except forts Bourbon and
Royal, was in possession of the British; but this was not
effected without the loss of 71 killed and 193 wounded. Lieu-
tenant W. Tremenheere, with a small party of marines and 200
seamen under captain E. Harvey, were landed, and having con-
veyed a twenty-four pounder gun and two mortars to the heights
of Souriere, a fire was opened upon Fort Bourbon, and the island
soon surrendered. Guadaloupe was the next object of attack,
and a detachment of seamen and marines having assisted in
the reduction of the strong post of Fleur d'Epee, the whole
colony surrendered on the 20th ; but a french squadron ap-
pearing off the island on the 3rd of June, disembarked 1400
troops, who regained possession of Fleur d'Epee. Sir John
Jervis being apprised of this reverse, quickly repaired off Gua-
daloupe with four ships of the line, and on the 19th two bat-
talions of seamen were landed, and took possession of the village
of Gosier.

From the 25th to the end of June several skirmishes took
place ; and on the morning of the 2nd of July an unsuccessful
attempt was made upon the town of Pointe-a-Pitre, which
failure led to the abandonment of Grand-terre by the british
forces. Between the 10th, and the 3rd of July, the army had
105 killed, 330 wounded, and 56 missing. On the part of the
navy, captain Lewis Robertson, 4 seamen, and 2 marines were
killed ; lieutenant Isaac Woolley, lieutenant of marines John
Mercer, 24 seamen, and 3 marines wounded ; and 16 seamen
missing.

On the 3rd of February the important post of Cape Tiburon,
St. Domingo, mounting twenty-two pieces of cannon, was taken

154 CAPTURE OF POMONE AND BABET.

by the British ; and on the 18th, the port of Aoul was carried,
after a sharp resistance, by a body of troops under lieutenant-
colonel Dansey. Fort Brissoton surrendered on the 2nd of
June, and on the morning of the 4th the british colours were
hoisted at Port-au-Prince. Throughout the operations which
led to the capture of the West India islands, the navy and
marines took part with the troops ; and sir John Jervis ob-
serves, " the unabated exertions of the officers and men under
his command could never be surpassed ; and that, keeping con-
stant pace with the troops, no difficulty or danger arrested, for
an instant, their career of glory."

In the course of this year several french frigates, chiefly in
squadrons of three or four, cruised in and near the British
Channel, and were so successful in their attempts to capture or
destroy our merchant shipping, that three british squadrons
were ordered to sea to intercept them. One of these, under
command of commodore sir John Borlase Warren, consisting of
five frigates, fell in with three french frigates and a corvette on
the 23rd of April, near Guernsey. At 6 h. 30 m., the Flora
being abreast of the rearmost ship, opened her fire, and con-
tinued engaging as she passed the three sternmost of the enemy;
but having her main-topmast shot away, and otherwise crippled,
she dropped astern, and was succeeded by the Arethusa. The
French now made all sail to escape, but the Arethusa, Melam-
pus, and Concorde soon approached the Pomone of 40, and
Babet of 20 guns, and both these ships surrendered, after a
gallant resistance, at 9 h. 30 m. p. m. The pursuit of the other
two frigates was continued by the Concorde and Melampus,
and the Engageante of 36 guns was captured by the Concorde,
after a close engagement of more than an hour, in which the
french ship suffered severely. The Resolue effected her escape
into Morlaix.

The following is a statement of the killed and wounded,
with the names of the officers of marines serving on board the
squadron : —

ROMNEY AND SIBYLLE. 155

Arethusa, 38 guns, captain sir Edward Pellevv, 3 killed, 5

wounded. First-lieutenant Richard Williams.
Flora, 36 guns, commander sir John B. Warren, bart., 1 killed,

3 wounded. First-lieutenant John Richardson.
Melampus, 36 guns, captain Thomas Wells, 5 killed, 5 wounded.

Second-lieutenant John Campbell.
Concorde, 36 guns, captain sir Richard Strachan, 1 killed, 12

wounded.
Nymphe, 36 guns, captain George Murray. First-lieutenant
Solomon Desbrisay.

Total, — 10 killed, 25 wounded.

The Pomone lost her main and mizen-masts, and had above
100 men killed and wounded.

A very determined defence was made by the french 36-gun
frigate Atalante, captain C. A. L. D. Linois, when captured by
the Swiftsure of 74 guns, captain Charles Boyles, on the 7th of
May, after a running fight of an hour, in which she lost 10 men
killed, and 32 wounded. The Swiftsure had one man killed.

On the 29th of May the 28-gun frigate Carysfort, captain
Francis Laforey, cruising to the westward of Ushant, captured
the french 32-gun frigate Castor, after an action of one hour
and fifteen minutes; in which the latter had 16 killed, and 9
wounded. The Carysfort had 1 man killed, and 4 wounded.
Lieutenant James Fynmore was serving on board the Carysfort.

On the 17th of June, as the Romney, 50 guns, captain the
hon. William Paget, having a convoy under her charge from
Naples to Smyrna, was passing the island of Miconi, in the
Archipelago, a french frigate was discovered at anchor. Cap-
tain Paget directed the convoy to proceed on, and the Romney
was presently at an anchor within a little more than a cable's
length of the 40-gun frigate Sibylle, commodore J. M. Rondeau.
At one p.m. the Romney, having taken her position with springs
on her cables, opened her fire, and the action continued with-
out intermission for an hour and ten minutes; when the Sibylle,
being in a defenceless state, and having 46 men killed, and

156 artois and revolutionaire.

112 wounded, struck her colours. The Romney had only 266
men and boys on board ; and of these, 8 were killed and 30
wounded. Lieutenant W. H. Allen was the officer of marines
on board the Romney.

On the 21st of October a squadron of four frigates under sir
Edward Pellew, when a few leagues to the westward of Ushant,
chased the french 40-gun frigate Revolutionaire, captain H. A.
Thevenard. The superior sailing of the Artois of 38 guns, ena-
bled her to bring the french frigate to action, and the latter de-
fended herself with great spirit for forty minutes ; when the
Diamond having approached within gun-shot, and the other
two ships coming up fast, the Revolutionaire struck her colours,
with a loss of 8 killed, and 4 wounded. The Artois had 2
killed ; lieutenant Peter Craigie of the marines (who died after
suffering amputation), and 5 wounded.

On the 2nd of May a fleet under earl Howe, consisting of
thirty-four ships of the line, with a number of smaller vessels
of war, and nearly a hundred sail of merchant-men, sailed from
Spithead. When off the Lizard, rear-admiral Montagu was
detached with eight ships of the line, to protect the East and
West India convoys ; leaving twenty-six sail of the line and
seven frigates cruising off Ushant.

On the 16th of May the french fleet, consisting of twenty-five
ships of the line and several frigates, under rear-admiral Villaret
de Joyeuse, and the conventional deputy Jean Bon Saint-Andre,
sailed from Brest, with the wind at north-east; and on the 28th
the enemy was seen to windward, bearing down towards the
english fleet; but they hauled to the wind when they had
reached within nine miles ; and, after some delay, formed an
indifferent line a-head. In the afternoon the rear division, under
rear-admiral Pasley, was partially engaged with the enemy, and
the Revolutionaire of 120 guns suffered so severely that she
bore away from the fleet, and was taken into Rochefort in a
disabled state. During the night of the 28th the two fleets
continued in sight of each other; and on the morning of the

LORD HOWE ON THE 29TH OF MAY. 157

29th earl Howe, with the intention of making some further im-
pression on the rear of the enemy, ordered the fleet to tack, and
then cut through the enemy's line in order to obtain the wea-
ther-gage. At 8 a.m. the van of the French wore round to sup-
port their rear, and then hauled to the wind. At 9 a. m.,
when on the larboard and same tack as the british fleet, the
French bore away, and at 10 a. m. opened an ineffectual fire
upon our van ; but some of that division were enabled to get
sufficiently near to make an impression on several of the french
ships, nor did the British escape with impunity. At 11 h. 30 m.
the signal was made to tack in succession, with the intention of
passing through the enemy's line ; but. the Csesar, the leading
ship, wore round, and then ran past the eighth ship of the ene-
my, before she hauled to starboard and cut through. About
1 p. m. the Queen wore, and passing under the lee of the Ter-
rible of 110 guns, ran along the french line, and became so
much crippled, that she could not haul up and pass through as
intended. On perceiving the disabled condition of the Queen,
lord Howe resolved to set the example of cutting the enemy's
line, and at 1 h. 30 m. p. m. the Queen Charlotte tacked, and
then passed close under the stern of the Eole, the sixth ship
from their rear ; and the two seconds to the british admiral, the
Bellerophon and the Leviathan, passed respectively under the
sterns of the Tyrannicide and Indomptable. Lord Howe then
came round again on the larboard tack, and hoisting the signal
for a general chase, the Queen Charlotte pursued the Terrible.
At 4 p. m. the Queen Charlotte, with several ships, ran down to
cover the Queen and Royal George, who were much disabled,
from the attack of the french admiral. This movement again
brought the two vans within random shot, and afforded an
opportunity for the Glory to distinguish herself. At 5 p. m.
the french commander-in-chief, having recovered his two dis-
abled ships, wore round, and rejoined the rear of his fleet;
and the British, by wearing in the same direction, kept the
weather-gage. During the two following days the weather was

158 BATTLE OF THE FIRST OF JUNE.

so foggy, that the enemy could only be seen at times ; but on
the 31st, at 9 a.m., the french fleet was descried to the northward,
and plainly seen to consist of twenty-six of the line. At 2 p.m.
lord Howe bore up, and ran down towards the enemy until 3 h.
30 m., when the British hauled to the wind on the larboard
tack. At 5 p.m., having formed the larboard line of bearing,
they edged away towards the enemy; but the admiral preferring
a daylight contest, again brought the fleet to the wind at 7 p.m.,
and kept under commanding sail during the night, to preserve
the weather-gage.

On the 1st of June, latitude 47° 48' north, longitude 18° 30'
west, the wind moderate from south and by west, the enemy
were seen about six miles on the lee bow of the British, in line
of battle upon the larboard tack. At 5 a.m. the british fleet
bore up, but at 7 h. 10 m. hauled to the wind on the same tack
as the enemy ; and as soon as the crews had taken their break-
fast, at 8 h. 12 m. a. m. they filled, and bore down upon their
opponents. About a quarter past nine the French opened their
fire upon the van of the British, who were steering in a lasking
direction towards the enemy. Soon after 10 a. m. the Queen
Charlotte passed under the stern of the Montague of 120 guns,
and ranged close up on her lee bow, where she became exposed
to the fire of the 80- gun ships Juste and Jacobin. A few of
the british ships following the example which had been set them
by their noble and gallant chief, cut through the french line,
and engaged their opponents to leeward ; but the remainder
hauled up to windward, some at a great distance, whilst others
were sufficiently near to engage with effect. At half past ten,
when the action was at its height, the french admiral in the
Montagne made sail a-head, followed by his second in the line,
and afterwards by such ships as had suffered but little in the
contest. By 11 h. 30 m. a.m. the firing had nearly ceased, when
the British were left with eleven, and the French with twelve,
more or less dismasted ships : at this time none of the enemy
had struck their colours, and many of the crippled ships were

SUCCESSFUL RESULT. 159

striving to escape under a spritsail, or some small sail set on the
stump of their masts. Admiral Villaret, having failed in his at-
tempt to cut off the Queen, which lay disabled at some distance
from the body of her fleet, stood on, and contrary to all expecta-
tion, was enabled to cover and rescue four of his dismasted
ships, the Republican 110, Muscius 74, Scipion 80, and Je-
mappes 74; a fifth, the Terrible 110, having previously joined
him, by gallantly fighting her way through the british fleet.
At about 1 h. 15 m. p. m. the action had nearly ceased ; but it
was not until 2 h. 30 m. p. m. that the six dismasted french ships
nearest at hand, the Sans Pareil 80, Juste 80, Amerique, Impe-
tueux, Northumberland, and Achille, of 74 guns, were secured.
At a little after 6 f. m. a seventh french ship, the Vengeur of 74
guns, was taken possession of, but in so shattered a state that
in ten minutes afterwards she went down, with upwards of 200
of her crew on board, composed chiefly of wounded men.

Admiral Villaret, after recovering his four disabled ships, two of
them without a stick standing except their bowsprit, stood away
to the northward; and before 7 p.m. the whole of his nineteen
remaining line of battle ships were out of sight of the british
fleet. It was not until the 3rd that lord Howe had sufficiently
repaired his ships to proceed to Spithead ; where he anchored
with his prizes and the whole of his fleet, except thirteen
ships, which he had ordered to Plymouth.

As our limited space will not admit of a detailed account of
this glorious contest, we merely subjoin a list of the ships and
their commanders, with the killed and wounded on the 29th of
May, and on the 1st of June ; together with the names of the
officers of marines serving in the fleet : —

Queen Charlotte, 100 guns, admiral earl Howe, captains sir R.

Curtis and sir A. Douglas, May 29, 1 killed; June 1, 13

killed, 29 wounded. 2nd regiment of foot.
Royal George, 100 guns, vice-admiral sir A. Hood, captain

W. Domett, May 29, 15 killed, 23 wounded ; June 1, 5

160 OFFICERS OF MARINES IN THE

killed, 49 wounded. Captain L. P. Jones, first-lieutenant
Andrew Polkington, second-lieutenant Samuel Claperton.
Royal Sovereign, 100 guns, vice-admiral T. Graves, captain
H. Nicholls, May 29, 8 killed, 22 wounded; June 1, 6
killed, 22 wounded. Captain C. B. Money, first-lieute-
nant Charles Allen, first-lieutenant Stephen Mitchell.
Barfleur, 98 guns, rear-admiral G. Bowyer (wounded), captain
C. Collingwood, June 1, 9 killed, 25 wounded. 69th regi-
ment of foot.

Impregnable, 98 guns, rear-admiral B. CaldwTell, captain G. B.
Westcott, June 1, 7 killed, 24 wounded. Captain-lieute-
nant George James Prosser, first-lieutenant Nicholas Croad,
second-lieutenant John Hebrington.

Queen, 98, rear-admiral A. Gardner, captain J. Hutt (wounded),
May 29, 22 killed, 27 wounded ; June 1, 14 killed, 40
wounded. Captain-lieutenant Thomas Solby, second-lieu-
tenant Frederic Liardet.

Bellerephon, 74 guns, rear-admiral T. Pasley (wounded), captain
W. Hope, June 1, 4 killed, 27 wounded. Captain Walter
Smith, first-lieutenant Samuel Foreshall, second-lieutenant
Richard Gamble.

Glory, 98 guns, captain J. Elphinstone, June 1, 13 killed, 39
wounded.

Gibraltar, 80 guns, captain J. McKenzie, June 1, 2 killed, 12
wounded. 25th regiment of foot.

Caesar, 80 guns, captain A. J. Pye Molloy, May 29, 3 killed, 19
wounded; June 1, 15 killed, 52 wounded. Captain James
Driffield, first-lieutenant Benjamin Dickenson, second-lieu-
tenant Thomas Hopper.

Brunswick, 74 guns, captain J. Harvey (killed), June 1, 44
killed, 114 wounded. 29th regiment of foot.

Valiant, 74 guns, captain T. Pringle, June 1, 2 killed, 9 wounded.
Captain Robert Moncrieffe, first-lieutenant Henry Cox, se-
cond-lieutenant George Jones.

Leviathan, 74 guns, captain Lord H. Seymour, June 1, 10

IN BATTLE OP THE FIRST OF JUNE. 161

killed, 33 wounded. Captain Theophilus Lewis, first-
lieutenant Thomas Maxwell, first-lieutenant Richard Ste-
phens.
Alfred, 74 guns, captain J. Bazeley, June 1, 8 wounded.
Culloden, 74 guns, captain J. Schomberg, June 1, 2 killed, 5
wounded. Captain W. Henville, first-lieutenant Hugh
Holland, second-lieutenant G, A. Livingstone.
Defence, 74 guns, captain J. Gambier, May 29, 1 killed, 3
wounded; June 1, 17 killed, 36 wounded. Second-lieute-
nant Samuel Brother.
Invincible, 74 guns, captain hon. T. Pakenham, May 29, 10
killed, 21 wounded; June 1, 4 killed, 10 wounded. Cap-
tain-lieutenant James Cassell, first-lieutenant Alexander
Mackenzie, first-lieutenant Thomas Piers.
Majestic, 74 guns, captain C. Cotton, May 29, 1 killed, 13
wounded ; June 1, 2 killed, 5 wounded. 2nd regiment of
foot.
Marlborough, 74 guns, captain hon. C. C. Berkeley, June 1,
29 killed, 90 wounded. Lieutenant Charles Lyon, 25th
regiment of foot.
Montagu, 74 guns, captain J. J. Montagu, June 1, 4 killed,
13 wounded. Captain Robert Henderson, second-lieutenant
Charles Lewis, second-lieutenant William Ratton.
Orion, 74 guns, captain J. T. Duckworth, May 29, 3 killed ;
June 1, 2 killed, 24 wounded. Captain George Dyer, first-
lieutenant Palms Westiopp, second-lieutenant William
B ransom.
Ramilies, 74 guns, captain H. Harvey, May 29, 3 killed ;

June 1, 2 killed, 7 wounded. 29th regiment of foot.
Russell, 74 guns, captain J. W. Payne, June 1, 8 killed, 26

wounded. 2nd regiment of foot.
Thunderer, 74 guns, captain A. Bertie. 29th regiment of foot.
Tremendous, 74 guns, captain J. Pigott, June 1, 3 killed, 8
wounded. Lieutenant-colonel Duncan Campbell, first-lieu-
tenant John Simpson.
VOL. I. m

162 CAPTURE OF THE ALEXANDER.

Phaeton, 38 guns, captain W. Bentinck, June 1, 3 killed, 5
wounded. First-lieutenant A. J. Trident.

67 killed, 128 wounded, on the 29th of May.
220 „ 712 „ on the 1st of June.

Total,— 287 „ 840

The thanks of both houses of Parliament were voted to the
flag-officers, captains, and other officers of the fleet for their
bravery and gallant conduct, with their approval and acknow-
ledgment of the services of the seamen, marines, and soldiers.
The city of London voted the sum of £500 for the relief of the
wounded warrant-officers, petty-officers, seamen, and marines,
and also for the widows and children of those who so gloriously
fell in the action.

Notwithstanding this proud mark of approval, it was so appa-
rent that several captains in the fleet had not done as much as
was expected by their country, that the lords commissioners of
the Admiralty restricted the distribution of medals to certain
officers, excluding the commanders of eight ships in the fleet;
and the sentence of a court-martial held on captain Anthony
Pye Molloy, at his own request, in consequence of some obser-
vations made by the commander-in-chief reflecting on his con-
duct, dismissed him from the command of the Csesar.

Early on the morning of the 6th of November, at 5 a.m., the
74-gun ships Alexander, captain Rodney Bligh, and Canada,
captain Hamilton, fell in with a french squadron of five sail of
the line and two frigates, under rear-admiral Nielly, who bore
up in chase of the british ships. A running fight was continued
until 1 p. m., when the Alexander, having suffered consider-
ably, her main-yard, spanker-boom, and her three top-gallant
masts shot away, and having sustained a loss of 40 men killed
and wounded, including among the latter a lieutenant of ma-
rines, struck her colours and was taken into Brest.

The officers of marines were major W. Tench, with lieute-
nants Oliver, Fitzgerald, and William Brown. The Canada
arrived at Plymouth in safety.

BLANCHE AND PIQUE. 163

In the early part of December, while the 64-gun ship Ardent,
captain Robert Manners Sutton, was stationed off Villa Franca,
she took fire and blew up, and every one on board perished.

1795.
The revolutionary spirit which prevailed in Holland, rendered
that country an easy conquest for the armies of France ; whilst
she retained the nominal dignity of an independent state, under
the style of the Batavian republic, it gave to the conquerors
every advantage which they could have derived from possess-
ing Holland as a province, without incurring the expense of
maintaining her as an integral part of the french empire.

England took the earliest opportunity of weakening the mari-
time power of the new ally of France ; and on the 19th of Jan-
uary orders were issued for seizing all dutch vessels in the
british ports.

On the 5th of January the 32-gun frigate Blanche, captain
Robert Faulknor, cruising off Grande-terre, Guadaloupe, sus-
tained a very severe action with the french 36-gun frigate
Pique. At 1 a.m. the two frigates became closely engaged, and
at 2 h. 30 m. the main and mizen-masts of the Blanche fell
over the side ; the Pique, having shortly afterwards ran foul of
her antagonist on the larboard quarter, made several ineffectual
attempts to board. About 3 a.m. captain Faulknor was killed
by a musket-ball, whilst assisting lieutenant David Milne in
lashing the bowsprit of the Pique to the capstan of the british
frigate ; but the lashings soon afterwards broke loose, and the
Pique crossing the stern of the Blanche, fell on board of the
latter's starboard quarter. Her bowsprit was immediately
lashed by the british crew to the stump of the Blanche's main-
mast ; and in this position, towed before the wind, the enemy
were defeated in their attempts to cut the lashings, by the rapid
and well-directed fire of the marines under lieutenant Thomas
Richardson. Although exposed to a galling and raking fire,
with her three masts over the side, the Pique continued to de-
fend herself until 5 h. 15 m. a.m., when, having sustained a loss

m 2

364 ASTREA AND GLOIRE.

of 76 killed and 110 wounded, out of a crew of 279 men and
boys, the French hailed that they had surrendered. The Blanche
lost her commander and 7 killed, and 21 wounded.

On the 13th of March the 32-gun frigate Lively, captain
George Burl ton, when about thirteen leagues to the westward
of Ushant, captured the 28-gun corvette Tourterelle, after a
gallant defence, which lasted from 10 b. 40 m. a.m. until 1 h.
30 m. p.m., when, being much disabled, with 16 men killed and
25 wounded, she struck her colours. The Lively had only two
men wounded. The officer of marines of the Lively was lieute-
nant B. Burke.

The Astrea of 32 guns, captain lord Harry Paulet, having
chased from a squadron under rear-admiral Colpoys cruising
to the westward, on the 10th of April, at 10 h. 30 m. p.m.,
brought to close action the french 36-gun frigate Gloire, cap-
tain Beens, and after a defence of fifty-eight minutes, compelled
the enemy to haul down her colours. The Asti'ea did not lose
a man, and had only 8 wounded. The Gloire lost 40 in killed
and wounded. Second-lieutenant William Johnstone was the
officer of marines on board the Astrea.

On the 17th of May the 36-gun frigate Thetis, captain the
hon. A. F. Cochrane, and 28-gun frigate Hussar, captain J. P.
Beresford, when twenty leagues from Cape Henry, attacked five
french frigates, armed en flute ; and after an action of an hour,
captured the Prevoyante mounting 24 guns, and Raison 18 guns.
The Thetis had 8 men killed, and 9 wounded ; the Hussar 3 men
wounded. Lieutenant Paul Crebbin of the marines was serv-
ing on board the Thetis ; and on board the Hussar, lieutenant
James Atcherly.

Vice-admiral Hotham was lying in Leghorn roads, with a
fleet of fifteen sail of the line and several frigates, when he re-
ceived intelligence, on the 8th of March, that the french fleet
had been seen off the island of Sainte Marguerite. On the 9th
the british fleet put to sea, and the 10th the look-out ships got
sight of the enemy. On the 13th the french fleet, consisting of

• .\PTURE OF rA-IRA AND CENSEUR. 165

thirteen ships of the line, was seen to windward, and the ad-
miral made the signal for a general chase. The Inconstant
being far in advance, captain F. T. Freemantle had the oppor-
tunity of distinguishing himself, by ranging up within musket-
shot of the 80-gun ship C^a-Ira (who had lost her fore and main
topmasts), and engaging her for some time. During the day
the Agamemnon, Bedford, and Egmont became engaged with
the rearmost ships, but nothing of importance occurred. On
the 14th, at o h. 30 m. a.m., when about seven leagues to the
south-west of Genoa, the British finding themselves to wind-
ward of the enemy, the Bedford and Captain were ordered to
attack the dismasted C,a-Ira, then in tow of the Censeur of 74
guns, and at some distance from the body of their fleet. Both
the british ships were so roughly handled in their attempt, as
to be compelled to withdraw from the contest, and the Captain
was rendered so unmanageable that she was towed clear of
her opponents. The wind having died away, it was with diffi-
culty that the enemy's fleet wore round at 8 a. m. ; and then
passing to leeward of the British, they became engaged with
the Illustrious and Courageux, both which ships suffered se-
verely ; the former losing her main, mizen-mast, and fore-top-
mast, and the Courageux her main and mizen-masts. The
french line then stood on, abandoning the C,a-Ira and Censeur
to their fate ; but neither of these ships surrendered until they
were dismasted and incapable of further resistance, and sus-
tained a loss of 400 men in killed and wounded. The troops
serving in the fleet wrere principally from regiments of the line :
the only officers of marines were captain Hugh Dawes, lieute-
nants Henry Johnstone, Francis Lynn, and William Allen.

Vice-admiral Hotham was lying in San-Fiorenzo bay on the
8th of July, with the fleet as stated above, to which must be
added the Victory 100 guns, Bai'fleur 98, Gibraltar 80, Bom-
bay Castle, Saturn, Cumberland, Culloden, and Audacious, of
74 guns, making a total of twentv-three sail of the line and two
frigates, when the french fleet, consisting of seventeen sail of the

166 CORNWALLls's RETREAT.

line with several frigates, appeared off that harbour. Admiral
Hotham immediately put to sea, and the British, before noon,
were under all sail, steering westward in pursuit of the enemy.

On the 13th, at day-break, when off Hyeres, the french fleet
was discovered about five miles to leeward; upon which vice-
admiral Hotham formed his ships in line of battle, and edged
away, so as to cut off the enemy from the shore, then about five
leagues distant. At 12 h. 30 m. p.m. a shift of wind brought
the leading ships, which were the Victory, Culloden, and Cum-
berland, in a position to engage; and at 2 p.m. the Alcide 74,
struck her colours. Shortly afterwards several other british
ships had been distantly engaged, and were coming up fast with
the enemy, when the signal was made to discontinue the action.
The Victory had 2 midshipmen and 3 marines killed; 1 lieu-
tenant, 1 midshipman, major Frederick Hill Flight and lieu-
tenant William Darley, of the marines, and 11 men wounded;
Culloden, 2 killed, and 5 wounded; Blenheim, 2 killed, 2
wounded ; Captain, 1 killed ; and Defence, 1 killed and 6
wounded : making a total of 1 1 killed, and 27 wounded.

On the 8th of June a squadron of five sail of the line and
two frigates, under vice-admiral William Cornwallis, when off
the Penmarcks, was chased and brought to action by a french
fleet of twelve sail of the line and eleven frigates. The Mars
and Triumph bore the brunt of the action, which lasted from
9 a.m. until 6 h. 10 m. p.m., when the enemy gave over the
pursuit. The Mars was the only ship that sustained any loss,
and that was confined to 12 men wounded.

On the 22nd lord Bridport, with fourteen sail of the line and
several frigates, when to the westward of Belleisle, and return-
ing to his station off Ushant from escorting the expedition un-
der sir J. B. Warren to Quiberon, discovered the french fleet
under admiral Villaret, which had chased admiral Cornwallis,
standing towards the land : all sail was made in pursuit, but
in the afternoon it fell nearly calm. At 3 a. m. on the 23rd, a
light breeze sprang up from the south-west, and as the daylight

LORD BRIDPORT OFF L'oRIENT. 167

appeared, the french fleet were seen right a-head in a cluster,
except three or four ships, who were somewhat astern of their
companions. At 6 a.m. the sternmost of the enemy opened their
fire, and at 6 h. 15 m. the Queen Charlotte and Orion com-
menced action with the Alexandre and Formidable. The breeze
freshening, brought up the remainder of the british ships, and
the cannonade continued until 7 h. 57 m. a.m., when lord Brid-
port made the signal to discontinue the action ; having taken
possession of the Alexandre 74 guns (formerly british), Formid-
able 74, and Tigre 74. The loss sustained by the british fleet
amounted to 31 killed, and 113 wounded. Lieutenant William
Jephcott of the marines was killed on board the Sans Pareil.

On the 24th of June the 28-gun frigate Dido, captain George
Henry Towry, and 32-gun frigate Lowestoffe, captain Robert
Gambier Middleton, when near Toulon, discovered the french
40-gun frigate Minerve, and 36-gun frigate Artemise. At 8 h.
30 m. a.m. the Minerve wore round on the same tack as the
Dido, and opened her fire ; shortly afterwards the Minerve bore
up and ran the Dido on board, with her bowsprit locked in the
mizen rigging of her little opponent ; and after several attempts
to board, which were defeated by the marines and pikemen of
the Dido, the bowsprit of the Minerve snapped in two, carrying
with it the wounded mizen-mast of the british frigate. The
Minerve then passing a-head, received the fire of the Lowes-
tofTe, which brought down the french ship's fore-mast, also her
main and mizen top-masts. About this time the Artemise fired
an ineffectual broadside, and hauled her wind under all sail.
At 11 h. 45 m. a.m. the Minerve, on the fail of her mizen-mast,
hailed to say they had surrendered. The Dido had 6 men
killed ; her first-lieutenant Richard Buckoll, and 14 wounded.
The Lowestoffe had only 3 men wounded.

In the early part of August a squadron, consisting of the
Monarch, Victorious, and Arrogant, of 74 guns, America and
Stately, of 64 guns, with two brigs, having on board a detach-
ment of the 78th regiment commanded by major-general Craig,

168

REDUCTION OF CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

anchored in Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope. The governor-
general Sluysken, refusing to place the colony under the pro-
tection of his britannic Majesty, a debarkation took place of
450 men of the 78th regiment, with 300 marines, commanded
by major Hill, having under him majors Ballinghall, Douglas,
and Wingrove ; captains Samuel Baldwin and Gilbert Gardner,
and lieutenants C. W. Adair (adjutant), Wingrove, Burn, Clap-
perton, Glaze, Templeton, and Thomas Mould. Meanwhile the
dutch militia had taken post on the adjacent heights, and occu-
pied a pass about six miles distant from the town, which they
had well fortified. A thousand seamen were also landed, and
formed into battalions under captains Hardy of the Echo, and
Spranger of the Rattlesnake.

On the 7th of August the lighter ships of the squadron stood
in shore, and with the gun-boats and launches covered the ad-
vance of the troops so effectually, that at 4 p. m. major-general
Craig, after a fatiguing march over heavy sandy ground, arrived
at and took possession of the abandoned dutch camp.

The advanced guard of the 78th, supported by the battalion,
drove the Dutch from an advantageous post on a rocky emi-
nence, and on the following day, the 8th, the enemy having
augmented his force from Cape Town, and having several field-
pieces, advanced to regain the position they had lost ; but after
some skirmishing the Dutch were compelled to retire. The
battalion of marines under major Hill obtained the commenda-
tion of major-general Craig, " for their steadiness and resolution"
on this occasion.

Some partial successes gained by the Dutch on the 1st and
2nd of September, encouraged them to meditate a general attack
on the british camp ; and in the night they advanced with all
their force, accompanied by eighteen field-pieces. At this anx-
ious moment the long-expected english fleet, with reinforce-
ments, opportunely appeared in the offing; and on the following
morning fourteen sail of East India ships, conveying a large
body of troops, with artillery and stores, under the command of

MUTINY ON BOARD THE CULLODEN. 169

general Alured Clarke, came to an anchor in Simon's Bay. The
disembarkation was completed on the 14th, and the troops hav-
ing immediately commenced their march, the dutch governor
became so alarmed, that he proposed terms of capitulation:
and on the 16th the colony surrendered, when about 1000 re-
gular troops were made prisoners.

On the 28th of September the 32-gun frigate Southampton,
captain James Macnamara, when cruising off Genoa, chased
several suspicious sail, and at 10 p.m. brought to action the
french 36-gun frigate Vestale. After exchanging several broad-
sides, the enemy's ship made oft under all sail, closely pursued
by the Southampton, until the mizen of the latter fell over the
side ; and although great exertion was made to clear the wreck,
and in erecting a jury-mast, the Vestale effected her escape,
having 8 men killed, and 9 wounded. Lieutenant Archibald
Campbell of the marines was serving on board the Southampton.

On the 5th of December, as the 74-gun ship Culloden, cap-
tain Thomas Troubridge, lay at -Spithead, the crew, bursting
into open mutiny, unshipped the ladders ; and having broken
into the magazine, they raised a barricade of hammocks across
the deck between the bits, loaded the two second guns from
forward with canister and grape, and pointed them towards the
hatchway. The marines, with the exception of six, were imme-
diately under arms, commanded by captain Thomas Currie, with
first-lieutenant Hugh Holland, and second-lieutenant G. A. Li-
vingstone. The seamen continued below during the night, arm-
ing themselves and preparing for defence; but on the morning
of the 17th the petty-officers and some of the seamen were
allowed to come upon deck. Notwithstanding the endeavours
of admirals lord Bridport, Cornwallis, and Colpoys to induce
the men to return to their allegiance, they continued to act in
defiance of their officers until the 10th, when captain the hon.
Thomas Pakenham succeeded in persuading them to return to
their duty.

On the 15th the ten ringleaders were tried by a court-martial,

170 CAPTURE OF DUTCH SQUADRON.

and on the 13th of January five of them suffered on board the
Culloden at Spithead, and the others received the king's pardon.

1796.

On the 16th of February a small squadron, under rear-
admiral Peter Rainier, with three transports conveying troops,
arrived off the dutch island of Amboyna, the capital of
the Molucca islands; and the troops having landed on the
same afternoon, possession was taken of the colony without
resistance. The squadron sailed for the islands of Banda on
the 5th of March, and on the evening of the 7th the expedition
arrived off Banda Neira. Early on the afternoon of the 8th the
troops, with the marines from the squadron, were disembarked
on the north side of the island, covered by the Orpheus frigate,
whose fire having silenced the batteries, they were soon oc-
cupied by the troops ; and on the same evening these islands
surrendered to the british arms.

In the early part of August a dutch squadron, consisting of
three small ships of the line, with three frigates and two smaller
vessels, arrived off Saldanha bay, with the intention of making
an attempt to regain possession of the Cape of Good Hope.
Eight ships of the line, under the command of vice-admiral sir
George Keith Elphinstone, were lying in Simon's Bay when the
intelligence was received of the arrival of the dutch force, and
on the 6th the british squadron put to sea ; but the violence of
the weather compelled them to return to their former anchorage
on the 12th. On the 15th the vice-admiral again sailed, and
on the following evening discovered the enemy's ships as before
described, lying at anchor in Saldanha bay. The british ships
soon afterwards anchored within gun-shot of the hostile squad-
ron, and a message was sent by sir George Elphinstone, inviting
the dutch officer to surrender without attempting any resistance.
On the 17th a capitulation was agreed to, and rear-admiral
Lucas surrendered his nine ships.

On the 27th of April rear-admiral sir Hugh C. Christian

REDUCTION OF WEST INDIA ISLANDS. 171

arrived off Saint Lucie, with a squadron and several transports,
having a large body of troops on board under the command of
lieutenant-general sir Ralph Abercromby, which were landed at
several points, under cover of the ships of war ; and 800 seamen
were also disembarked, to co-operate in the intended attack on
Morne Fortunee. Morne Chabot, the first post attacked, was
carried by one division of the force on the 28th, with the loss of
13 killed, and 49 wounded ; but the attempt on the batteries
near the grand cul-de-sac on the 3rd of May, and on the post
of the Vigie on the night of the 17th, although conducted with
the greatest bravery, were both unsuccessful, and was attended
with a loss of 12 killed, 56 wounded, and 34 missing at the
first of these assaults ; and of one officer killed, 114 men wound-
ed, and 65 missing at the latter. After a few attacks of outposts,
the enemy retired to the fortress of Morne Fortunee, and having
obtained a suspension of arms, the garrison, amounting to 2000
men, marched out with the honours of war, and laid down their
arms. The total loss sustained in the reduction of this valuable
colony amounted to 66 killed, 378 wounded, and 122 missing.
The marines of the squadron, amounting to 320 men, assisted
in these operations, and their promptitude and gallantry was
acknowledged by lieutenant-general sir Ralph Abercromby in
the handsomest terms.

The island of St. Vincent was taken possession of on the
11th, after an obstinate resistance; on which occasion the Bri-
tish lost 38 killed, and 145 wounded. A few days afterwards
Grenada also submitted ; but not without a determined oppo-
sition, and a loss to the British of 9 killed, and 60 wounded.

On the 21st of March the town and fort of Leogane, in the
island of San Domingo, was attacked by a detachment of colo-
nial and british troops under major-general Forbes, in two divi-
sions, supported by the squadron, which consisted of the three
ships of the line Leviathan, Swiftsure, and Africa, with the
Ceres and Iphigenia frigates; but the fort proving better capa-
ble of defence than was anticipated, the troops were withdrawn

172 CAPTURE OF UNITE.

on the following day and night, without sustaining much loss.
The Leviathan had 5 men killed, and 12 wounded; and the
Africa one killed, and 7 wounded ; and both ships were so
seriously damaged, that they were under the necessity of going
to Jamaica to refit.

A more successful attack was afterwards made on the fort
and parish of Bombarde, at a distance of fifteen miles. The
only road leading to it, by which cannon could be conveyed,
had been effectually blockaded by the enemy ; nevertheless the
troops, after some difficulty and opposition, surrounded the
fort and compelled the garrison, consisting of 300 whites, to
surrender; but the possession of the place cost the British
8 killed, and 18 wounded.

On the 18th of March the 38-gun frigate Diamond, captain
sir William Sidney Smith, proceeded to attack a trench corvette
and convoy in the port of Herqui, near Cape Frehel, which was
defended by two batteries mounting 3 twenty-four pounders,
situated on a high promontory. Lieutenant H. Pine and lieu-
tenant Edmund Carter, of the marines, landed with a detach-
ment and stormed the battery. The only loss sustained by the
British in this gallant affair was lieutenant Carter, mortally
wounded.

Lieutenant George Jones, of the marines, was serving on
board the 38-gun frigate Revolutionaire, captain Francis Cole,
when that ship, having chased from a squadron cruising off
Ushant on the 13th of April, captured the french 36-gun frigate
Unite, after a short resistance, in which the enemy had 9 men
killed and 1 1 wounded ; but the Revolutionaire did not sustain
any loss.

On the 20th of April the 44-gun frigate Indefatigable, captain
sir Edward Pellew, after a chase of fifteen hours, brought to
action, at about midnight, the french 40-gun frigate Virginie ;
and the contest was continued under all sail during one hour
and forty-five minutes, by which time the french frigate had lost
her mizen-mast and main top-mast ; nor was the Indefatigable

UNICORN AND TRIBUNE. 173

much less disabled, having had her mizen top-mast and gaff
shot away. The Amazon and Concorde arriving up, compelled
the Virginie to surrender, having 15 men killed and 27 wounded.
First-lieutenant Samuel Williams was serving on board the In-
defatigable, which ship did not lose a man in the action.

On the 8th of June, when cruising at the entrance of the
Channel, the 32-gun frigate Unicorn, captain Thomas Williams,
and 36-gun frigate Santa Margarita, captain Thomas Byam
Martin, chased the french 36-gun frigates Tamise (late Thames)
and Tribune, with the Lege re corvette. At one p. m. the enemy
opened a fire from their stern chasers with such destructive
effect upon the sails and rigging of their opponents, that it was
not until 4 p.m. that the Santa Margarita was enabled to close
with the Tamise ; and after a resistance of twenty minutes, com-
pelled her to strike her colours, having 32 men killed, and 19
wounded. The Santa Margarita, on board which ship was
second-lieutenant James Dyson of the marines, had only 2
men killed, and 3 wounded.

Seeing the fate of her companion, the Tribune endeavoured
to make her escape ; but the Unicorn, at 10 h. 30 m. p. m.,
after having ran above 200 miles in the pursuit, ranged up
alongside her antagonist, and a close action continued for
thirty-five minutes, when the Tribune dropped astern, and en-
deavoured to gain the wind of the Unicorn ; but by throwing
all aback, the latter placed herself on the Tribune's weather
bow, and after a few broadsides brought down her fore and
main-masts, also her mizen top-mast, and compelled her to
strike her colours, having sustained a loss of 37 killed, and
15 wounded. Second-lieutenant George Hart was serving on
board the Unicorn, which ship, like the Indefatigable, had the
good fortune to escape without any loss.

On the 13th of June, at 1 a.m., the 36-gun frigate Dryad,
captain lord Amelius Beauclerk, cruising off Cape Clear, dis-
covered the french 40-gun frigate Proserpine, and pursued her
until 9 p.m., when she closed on the lee and larboard quarter

174 SOUTHAMPTON AND UTILE.

of her opponent. After a resistance of forty minutes, the Pro-
serpine having sustained a loss of 30 men killed, and 45
wounded, struck her colours. Lieutenant Thomas Shearman
was serving on board the Dryad, whose loss amounted to 2
men killed, and 7 wounded.

On the 9th of June the british fleet was cruising off Toulon,
when a french corvette was descried working up towards the
road of Hyeres; upon which, captain Macnamara of the 32-
gun frigate Southampton, was directed by sir John Jervis to
endeavour to bring her out, and with this intent the british
frigate steered for the Grande Passe, between the islands of
Porquerolles and Posteros. At 6 p.m., the corvette having
been discovered lying close to the shore, the Southampton
stood boldly across Hyeres road, and at 8 h. 30 m. p.m. got
within pistol-shot of the french ship-corvette Utile, of 24 guns,
with a crew of 130 men. Captain Macnamara hailed, and cau-
tioned the commander not to make a fruitless resistance; but
the latter instantly snapped his pistol at the speaker as the
Utile fired her broadside, which was quickly returned by the
guns of the Southampton. After the third broadside, captain
Macnamara hauled athwart the hawse of the Utile, and having
lashed the corvette's bowsprit to the main rigging of the british
frigate, lieutenant Lydiard, heading the boarders, sprang upon
the frenchman's decks, and after a determined resistance of ten
minutes, during which the french captain gallantly fell at his
post, the corvette surrendered. Lieutenant Archibald Camp-
bell of the marines was serving on board the Southampton,
whose loss on this occasion was confined to 1 marine wounded.
The Utile's loss amounted to 8 men killed, and 17 wounded.

On the 17th of July the 50-gun ship Glatton, captain
Henry Trollope, mounting 28 long eighteen-pounders on the
main-deck, and 28 carronade sixty-eight pounders on the lower
deck, being then on the coast of Flanders, discovered several
ships under the land, which proved to be four frigates : one
mounting 46 guns, one of 44 guns, one of 40, one of 28,

GLATTON DEFEATS FRENCH FRIGATES. 175

with two corvettes of 22 guns each, and two brigs. At 8 p.m.
the four frigates formed in line to await the attack ; and
at 10 p.m. the Glatton ranged up alongside of the com-
modore, the second from the van, who, on displaying the
french colours, opened a brisk fire, and was immediately
seconded by the other ships. Shortly afterwards the leading
ship tacked, and after receiving a destructive broadside from
the Glatton, stood away to the southward. In about twenty
minutes after the commencement of the action, the french
commodore tacked, to avoid running on the Brill shoal ; and
while in stays, received a heavy raking fire, which did con-
siderable damage : the other french ships had previously gone
on the other tack. After the Glatton got round, which was
attended with some difficulty owing to the disabled state of her
sails and rigging, she exchanged a few shot with one of the
three ships to leeward; but before 11 p.m. the enemy with-
drew from the contest, leaving the Glatton so much dismantled
as to be incapable of pursuit. No men were killed on board
the Glatton, and the only wounded were captain Henry Strange-
ways of the marines, and a corporal. This gallant officer, al-
though mortally wounded by a musket-ball in the thigh, and
compelled to quit the deck to have a tourniquet applied, in-
sisted on returning to his quarters, where he continued to ani-
mate his men, until, being faint from loss of blood, he was
carried below.

On the 22nd of July the 32-gun frigate Aimable, captain
Jemmet Mainwaring, when cruising off the island of Guada-
loupe, sustained a gallant action with the french 3fi-gun frigate
Pensee, which, after some manoeuvring, commenced at 8 h.
35 m. a.m., and continued until 9 a.m., when the enemy bore
away, firing her stern chase-guns until out of range of her dull
sailing opponent. The Aimable had only two men wounded,
but the Pensee is reported to have sustained a loss of 90 men
in killed and wounded.

On the morning of the 22nd of July, the 32-gun frigate

176 MERMAID AND VENGEANCE.

Mermaid, captain Robert W. Otway, left the Saintes, near
Guadaloupe, in pursuit of the french 40-gun frigate Vengeance,
then under the land of Basseterre. At 11 h. 45 m. a.m.,
the batteries on shore fired several shot over the Mermaid,
who about noon got within gunshot of her opponent. The
action continued until 3 p. m., when the Mermaid had her fore-
top-gallant mast shot away; upon which the Vengeance, set-
ting her courses, ran under the batteries, and shortly afterwards
anchored in the road of Basseterre. The Mermaid sustained
no loss, but the Vengeance had 12 men killed and 26 wounded.
Second-lieutenant Richard Cox of the marines was serving on
board the Mermaid.

On the 9th of September the Arrogant of 74 guns, captain
Richard Lucas, on board of which ship were, captain George
Ball and first-lieutenant Robert Johnston, of the marines; with
the Victorious 74, captain William Clark ; captain of marines,
major Frederick H. Flight, first-lieutenant William Darley, and
lieutenant Thomas Buck; when off Pulo Way, isle of Sumatra,
sustained an action with six french frigates under rear-admiral
Sercey. The firing commenced at 7 h. 25 m. a.m., and lasted
until 10 h. 55 m., at which time the enemy's squadron bore up
to the westward under a crowd of sail. The Arrogant was
very seriously cut tip, and lost 7 killed and 27 wounded. The
Victorious, who had only 485 men at quarters, having a lieu-
tenant and 90 men away in prizes, lost 17 men killed, her
captain and 55 wounded.

On the morning of the 13th of October, the 32-gun frigate
Terpsichore, captain Richard Bo wen, when cruising off the
port of Carthagena, observed the Spanish 34-gun frigate Ma-
honesa running down towards her. Having approached within
hail at 9 h. 30 m. a.m., the Spanish frigate rounded to on the
weather-beam of the Terpsichore, and commenced an action
which continued with great spirit for an hour and twenty mi-
nute2, when the enemy endeavoured to make off. At this time
the Terpsichore was much disabled in her masts, spars, and

TERPSICHORE AND VESTALE. 177

rigging ; but in less than twenty minutes the british frigate had
refitted, was again alongside her opponent, and ready to re-
commence the contest ; when the Mahonesa struck her colours,
having lost 30 men killed, and as many wounded. Second-
lieutenant John Orton of" the marines was serving on board the
Terpsichore, which ship had none killed, and but four men
wounded.

Having repaired her damages at Gibraltar, the Terpsichore
was again at sea in search of an opponent, when on the 12th of
December, at day-break, being twenty leagues to the westward
of Cadiz, an enemy's frigate was discerned lying to, about four
miles on the weather-quarter. Sail was immediately made in
chase, which continued until 9 h. 30 m. p.m. on the 13th, when
the enemy's ship, (which was the french 36-gun frigate Vestale),
hauled up her courses and hove to. At 10 p.m. the Terpsichore
ranged close up on her weather-quarter, and both ships opened
their fire, which continued until 11 h. 4 m. p.m., when the
Vestale struck her colours, having lost her captain and 27
killed, and 37 men wounded. The Terpsichore could only
muster at quarters 166 men and boys, having away in prizes
two lieutenants, three midshipmen, and 41 men : her loss in
the action amounted to four seamen killed, lieutenant George
Bowen and 17 men wounded. During the night of the 13th,
the french crew rose on the small party in possession of the
prize, and carried her into Cadiz.

On the 19th of December commodore Nelson, in the 38-gun
frigate Minerve, captain George Cockburn, with the 32-gun
frigate Blanche, captain d'Arcy Preston, when near Porto-
Ferrajo, fell in with two large Spanish frigates; and whilst the
Blanche wore and attacked the one to leeward, the Minerve
hauled up, and at 10 h. 40 m. brought to close action the
40-gun frigate Sabina. After a brave resistance of two hours
and fifty minutes, the Spanish ship struck her colours, with the
loss of her mizen-mast, and having 10 men killed, and 45
wounded. The Minerve had 7 killed; lieutenant Noble and 32
VOL. i. n

178 MINER VE AND SABINA.

wounded. Shortly afterwards, another Spanish frigate was seen
approaching; upon which the Minerve, casting off her prize,
brought the stranger to action, and after engaging for half an
hour, compelled her to haul off: at this moment the approach
of the Principe de Asturias and two frigates, induced the british
frigate to look to her own safety, whilst her prize, the Sabina,
fell into the enemy's hands. In a few minutes after the Mi-
nerve poured her first broadside into the Sabina, the Blanche
was close alongside the frigate to leeward, and after some sharp
firing, the Ceres hauled down the Spanish colours, with the loss
of 7 men killed, and 15 wounded ; but like her consort, she
was recaptured by the Spanish squadron. The Blanche sus-
tained neither damage nor loss in the action.

179

CHAPTER V.

From the year 1797 to 1799.

An expedition had been for some time in preparation in the dif-
ferent french ports for the invasion of Ireland, and the fleet was
finally to assemble at Brest; from which anchorage they were
to proceed to Bantry Bay. On the 16th of December this ar-
mament put to sea, consisting of seventeen ships of the line,
thirteen frigates, six corvettes, with transports — in all forty-four
sail, having 600 troops on board of each line of battle ship, and
in each frigate 250; so that with the number on board the other
vessels, the army amounted to 18,000 men; and in addition to
the troops, which consisted of both cavalry and infantry, the
fleet carried a quantity of field artillery, with stores and am-
munition. It blew hard from the eastward, and during the
night the Seduisant of 74 guns was wrecked on the Stevenet
rock in the passage Du Raz, when about 700 men perished.
The remainder of the fleet arrived ofF Dursey island on the 21st,
and part of the ships anchored at the eastern extremity of Bear
island, where they continued until the 25th; when a heavy gale
drove them from their anchors, and compelled them to put to
sea. They remained scattered on the coast for some days, and
then made the best of their way back to Brest ; as did the re-
mainder of their men-of-war, with the exception of the Droits
de l'Homme and some frigates, of which we shall have presently
to give a favourable account. The Droits de l'Homme of 74
guns, commodore La Crosse, having separated from her com-
panions, steered for l'Orient; and on the 13th of January, 1797,
when off the Penmarcks, was discovered through the thick

180

THE DROITS DE L HOMME.

weather which prevailed by the Indefatigable 44, captain sir
Edward Pellew, and the Amazon 38, captain Robert Carthew
Reynolds. At 4 h. 15 m. p.m. a squall carried away the fore
and main top-masts of the french ship, and she continued steer-
ing towards the shore under her courses and mizen top-sail;
whilst the Indefatigable and Amazon took positions upon either
bow, pouring in an occasional raking fire until 4 h. 30 m. a.m.
on the 14th, when the appearance of land close to leeward
caused the frigates to haul off from the threatened danger, and
the Droits de l'Homme to make a similar effort. During the
whole of this long engagement the sea ran extremely high ;
the Indefatigable had four feet water in the hold, and all her
masts were in a wounded state. The Amazon had also suffered
severely from the enemy's fire in her masts and rigging, and
she had 3 men killed and 15 badly wounded. On board the
Indefatigable there were none killed, but 18 men were wounded.
As daylight appeared, the french 74 was seen lying on her broad-
side in Audieone bay, with the sea beating over her. The
Amazon, on perceiving the danger, wore to the northward, and
soon afterwards struck the ground and was wrecked ; but her
crew, with the exception of six persons, got safe to the shore.
Lieutenants O'Connor and Wilson of the marines were favour-
ably mentioned by Sir Edward Pellew, for their exertions on
this trying occasion.

At this period the navy was so much augmented, that the
supplies voted were for 120,000 men for the sea service, in-
cluding 20,000 marines. On the 13th of February admiral
sir John Jervis, with fifteen sail of the line, was steering towards
Cadiz; when the Minerve frigate, captain George Cockburn,
bearing the broad pendant of commodore Nelson, brought intel-
ligence that the Spanish fleet had been seen at the mouth of the
Straits, consisting of twenty-seven ships of the line and twelve
frigates, under the command of don Josef de Cordova, having
sailed from Carthagena on the 12th of February. On the 14th,
at daylight, several ships were discovered through the haze to

BATTLE OF CAPE ST. VINCENT. 181

windward of the fleet, and before 9 a.m. twenty sail of the line
were visible from the Victory's mast-head. About 11 a.m. the
fog had cleared away, and the Spaniards were seen grouped
together under all sail, with the wind on the starboard quarter,
running down to form a junction with six ships of the line to
leeward, who were close hauled on the same tack, striving hard
to close with the main body of their fleet.

With the intention of cutting off the lee division of the enemy,
and at the same time to be prepared to receive the nineteen
bearing down to windward, who at 11 a.m. began trimming in
succession on the larboard tack, the british admiral formed his
fleet in line of battle astern of the Victory, and steered to the
south-west, keeping the six detached ships of the enemy on the
lee or larboard bow, directing his course for the opening be-
tween the two divisions of the enemy, whilst the latter were still
endeavouring to form a junction. At 11 h. 30 m. the van ships
wrere distantly engaged, and about this time two Spanish three-
deckers and a two-decker stood across the head of the british
line, and joined the ships to leeward; thus augmenting the
Spanish lee division to eight, and reducing their force to wind-
ward to sixteen sail of the line.

At 8 m. past noon, after passing the sternmost of the enemy's
weather-ships, the leading british ship, the Culloden, tacked ;
and about the same time the Spanish lee division also went
about, and stood towards the head of the british line, still on
the starboard tack. The Spanish vice-admiral steered to cut
the british line a-head of the Victory, but the latter was too
rapid in her advance, and compelled the Spanish three-decker
to tack close under her lee, raking her whilst in stays with such
destructive effect, as induced her to bear away in great con-
fusion, followed by the second three-decker and five other
ships; but the Oriente gallantly kept upon the larboard tack,
and passing along the british line, succeeded in joining her van.
At 1 p. m., just as the rear ship of the British, still on the star-
board tack, had reached beyond the leading ships of the spa-

182 NELSON BOARDS THE SAN NICOLAS.

nish weather-division, then passing in the contrary direction,
the advanced ships of the enemy bore up together, as a last
effort to join their friends to leeward. Commodore Nelson in
the Captain, the third ship from the rear of the british line, ap-
prehensive that the weather-division of the enemy would form
a junction with those to leeward before the ships in the british
van could possibly reach them, immediately wore round, and
passing between the Diadem and Excellent, ran athwart the
bows of the Spanish ships as far as the sixth from the rear; and
at 1 h. 30m. p.m., when the Culloden had arrived up from the
british van and commenced firing, the Captain was engaged
with the Santissima Trinidada ; for the Spanish admiral, frus-
trated in his attempt of running to leeward, had with his fleet
hauled up on the larboard tack. The Blenheim, Prince George,
and Orion, had now taken part in the action, and at 2 h. 26 in.
p. m. the Excellent opened her fire on the Salvador del Mundo,
as she passed on the latter's weather bow ; and then having
stood on to the San Ysidro, ranged up on her lee-beam and
engaged her until 2 h. 53 m. p. m., when the Spanish colours
were hauled down. The Excellent then passed on a-head and
engaged the 80-gun ship San Nicolas, who had been contend-
ing with the Captain ; and in hauling up to avoid her new anta-
gonist, the San Nicolas ran foul of the San Josef, whose mizen-
mast had been shot away. The Captain now re-opened her
fire upon the San Nicolas, and then laid her on board, hooking
with her larboard cathead the starboard quarter-gallery of the
Spanish 80, and with her spritsail yard, the latter's mizen-rig-
ging. Commodore Nelson immediately boarded, and following a
soldier of the 69th regiment, entered the upper gallery window ;
but by the time he reached the quarter-deck, captain Berry was
in possession of the poop, and the Spanish ensign was hauling
down. At this time the San Nicolas was foul of the San Josef,
and had opened a fire of small arms from her stern at the British
on the forecastle of the captured ship ; upon which commodore
Nelson directed his men to board the first-rate, and they were

RESULT OF THE BATTLK.

183

preparing- for the assault, when a Spanish officer looked over the
quarter-deck rail, and said they had surrendered.

The Excellent, on quitting the San Nicolas, took a position
under the lee of the Santissima T rinidada, who was then warmly
engaged by the Orion and Irresistible. After losing her fore
and mizen-masts, the fire of this formidable ship ceased, and
the Spanish colours disappeared; but the opportune arrival of
eleven ships saved the crippled four-decker from further moles-
tation. This was at about 4 p. m., and shortly afterwards the
feritish admiral, observing the approach of these ships, ordered
the frigates to take the prizes in tow, and for the ships of the
fleet to form in close line a-head in the wake of the Victory.
All firing had ceased before 5 f. m., when the British found
themselves in possession of the San Josef and Salvador del
Mundo of 1 12 guns, the San Nicolas of 80, and the San Ysidro
of 74 guns. This conquest had been accomplished by fifteen
ships of the line against twenty-six Spaniards, with the trifling
loss on the part of the British of 73 killed and 227 wounded;
and the only ship that lost a spar was the Captain, whose fore
top-mast had fallen over the side.

The names of the officers of marines serving in the fleet are
stated in the following order of battle, giving the killed and
wounded on board of the respective ships :—

Culloden, 74 guns, captain T. Troubridge, 10 killed, 47 wound-
ed. Captain Thomas Carrie, lieutenant G. A. Livingstone
(killed), lieutenant Richard Barford.
Blenheim, 98 guns, captain T. L. Frederic, 12 killed, 49 wound-
ed. Major James Berkeley, with a subaltern of the 51st,
one of the 18th, and one of the 90th regiments.

Prince George, 98 guns, rear-admiral W. Parker, captain John
Irwin, 8 killed, 7 wounded. Captain Oliver Naylor, second-
lieutenant Robert Miles, second-lieutenant W. T. J. Mat-
thews.

Orion, 74 guns, captain sir James Saumarez, 9 wounded. Cap-

184 OFFICERS SERVING IN THE FLEET.

tain J. B. Savage, first-lieutenant Henry Hodge, second-
lieutenant Thomas Weaver.

Colossus, 74 guns, captain George Murray, 5 wounded. Cap-
tain Acheson Crozier, first-lieutenant John Crane, second-
lieutenant Jacob Harrison.

Irresistible, 74 guns, captain George Martin, 5 killed, 14 wound-
ed. Captain James E. Gordon, first-lieutenant John Ken-
dall, first-lieutenant Charles Tyldesley.

Victory, 100 guns, admiral sir John Jervis, K.B., captains Robert
Calder and George Grey, 1 killed, 5 wounded. Major F.
H. Flight, first-lieutenant William Darley, second-lieute-
nant John Williams.

Egmont, 74 guns, captain John Sutton. Major G. Whiting,
lieutenant W. H. Duer.

Goliath, 74 guns, captain sir C. H. Knowles, bart., 8 wounded.
Major Andrew Burn, lieutenant W. H. Young, second-lieu-
tenant Charles Harvey.

Barfleur, 98 guns, vice-admiral hon. William Waldegrave, cap-
tain James R. Dacres, 7 wounded. Major James Young,
first-lieut. William Johnstone, second-lieut. Edward Cox.

Britannia, 100 guns, vice-admiral Charles Thompson, captain
Thomas Foley, 1 wounded. 69th regiment.

Namur, 90 guns, captain J. H. Whitshed, 2 killed, 5 wounded.
Captain N. Croad, first-lieutenant Henry A. Durrie, second-
lieutenant Thomas Henderson.

Captain, 74 guns, commodore Horatio Nelson, captain R. W.
Miller, 24 killed, 56 wounded. Major William Norris
(killed), lieutenant John Graham, and lieutenant Charles
Pearson, 69th regiment.

Diadem, 64 guns, captain G. H. Towry, 2 wounded. 11th
regiment.

Excellent, 74 guns, captain Cuthbert Collingwood, 11 killed,
12 wounded. Captain Arthur Ball, lieutenants William
Cottell, William Connolly.

Total, — 73 killed, and 227 wounded.

CAPTURE OF MUTINE. 185

Major Andrew Burn, being the senior officer of marines in the
fleet, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

On the 6th of April, in the night, the boats of the 32-gun
frigate Magicienne, and 44-gun frigate {en flute) Regulus, com-
manded by the lieutenants of those ships, on which service
lieutenants Philip Luscombe Perry and George Frazer of the
marines assisted, entered the harbour of Cape Roxo, in the
island of San Domingo, where they captured, sank, and burnt,
thirteen sail of square-rigged vessels ; and they destroyed two
batteries of two guns each at the entrance of the harbour.

On the 9th of March the 36-gun frigate San Fiorenzo, cap-
tain sir Harry Neale, and 36-gun frigate Nymphe, captain John
Cooke, being the in-shore squadron off Brest, bore down and
attacked the french 40-gun frigate Resistance, and 22-gun cor-
vette Constance, and after a slight opposition, both the latter
ships surrendered. Neither of the british ships suffered any
loss, whilst the Resistance had 10 killed and 9 wounded ; and
the Constance 8 killed and 6 wounded. First-lieutenant John
Campbell was serving on board the Nymphe, and first-lieutenant
R. Carruthers on board the San Fiorenzo.

On the 28th of May the Lively and Minerve frigates, captains
Benjamin Hallowell and George Cockburn, discovered an armed
brig anchored in the road of Santa Cruz. On the following day
it was determined to attempt her capture by the boats, under
the orders of lieutenant Thomas Masterman Hardy, on which
service lieutenant Robert Bulkley of the marines was a volun-
teer. At 2h. 30 m. p. m. the boats made a resolute attack upon
the brig as she lay at anchor, and although opposed by a sharp
fire of musketry, they boarded and carried her ; and under a
heavy fire from the batteries on shore, as well as from a large
ship lying in the roads, the french brig Mutine, mounting 14
guns, was safely brought alongside the frigates by 4 p. m. The
British had none killed, but lieutenant Hardy and 15 men were
wounded.

In the early part of July, a british fleet of twenty-one sail of

18a

ATTACK ON SANTA CRUZ.

the line, under admiral sir John Jervis, blockaded the Spanish
fleet of twenty-six ships of the line in the harbour of Cadiz. On
the 3rd of that month the town was bombarded by the Thunder,
supported by the armed boats of the fleet, who were attacked
by the Spanish gun-boats; but these were driven back under
the guns of Cadiz, with the loss of two mortar boats and the
commandant of the flotilla, who was captured after a personal
conflict with rear-admiral Nelson. A second bombardment took
place on the 5th by three bomb-vessels, covered by the Theseus,
Emerald, and Terpsichore. The cannonade produced consider-
able effect both on the town and the shipping, and the british
and Spanish gun-boats again encountered each other. The loss
did not exceed 3 killed ; captain Thomas Oldfield of the marines,
and 15 men wounded.

In the early part of July, the earl of St. Vincent detached
from the fleet cruising before Cadiz a squadron consisting of
three sail of the line, three frigates, and a cutter, to make an
attack on the town of Santa Cruz, in the island of Tenerifl'e,
and attempt the capture of a galleon anchored in the bay. This
service was entrusted to rear-admiral Horatio Nelson, who ar-
rived there with the ships under his command on the 15th, and
made immediate preparation for landing the seamen and marines.

On the 20th the three frigates, with the cutter and mortar-
boat, together with the boats of the squadron, stood towards
the shore ; but a gale of wind coming on, they were prevented
from landing. On the 22nd, it having been determined to make
an attack on the heights on the north side of the bay, and then
carry the fort by storm, at 9 p. m. the frigates anchored in-
shore off the east end of the town, and landed their men ; but
finding the heights too strongly guarded, the British re-em-
barked in the course of the night, and without loss. On the
24th the Leander joined the squadron, and at 5 p. m. the line of
battle ships anchored about seven miles to the north-eastward
of the town, and the frigates within two of the shore, as if in-
tending to land in that direction; but this was a feint, and the

OFFICERS EMPLOYED ON THE SERVICE. 187

mole-head was to be the rendezvous for the boats. At 11 p.m.
about 700 men embarked in the boats, 180 in the Fox cutter,
and 75 on board a large boat which had been captured, num-
bering, with a small detachment of artillery under lieutenant
Baynes, about 1100 men: the detachments of seamen were
under their respective captains, and the whole commanded by
the rear-admiral in person. Every precaution had been taken
to keep the boats together, but the rough state of the weather,
and the extreme darkness of the night, rendered this arrange-
ment impracticable.

The following are the names of the ships composing the
squadron, and the officers of marines who assisted in this expe-
dition : —

Theseus, 74 guns, rear-admiral sir Horatio Nelson, K.B., cap-
tain R. W. Miller. Captain Thomas Oldfield, lieutenant
George Beatty, Arthur Hull.

Culloden, 74 guns, captain Thomas Troubridge. Lieutenant
Barford.

Zealous, 74 guns, captain Samuel Hood. Captain James Home,
lieutenants William Vivion, William Judson.

Leander, 50 guns, captain T. B. Thompson. Lieutenant Raby
Robinson, (killed).

Seahorse, 38 guns, captain T. F. Freemantle. Lieutenant Fran-
cis Wemyss.

Emerald, 36 guns, captain John Waller. Lieutenant William
Basham, (killed).

Terpsichore, 32 guns, captain Richard Bowen. Lieutenant John
Orton.

Fox cutter, lieutenant John Gibson; and a mortar boat

About 1 h. 30 m. a.m. on the 25th, the Fox cutter, attended
by the rear-admiral's boat and some others, had reached within
half gun-shot of the mole head, undiscovered ; when, on the
alarm being given, a fire was opened from more than 30 pieces
of cannon and a body of troops stationed along the shore, which

188 A LANDING EFFECTED.

so injured the Fox, that she immediately went down with 97
brave fellows, including lieutenant Gibson. A shot struck the
rear-admiral on the right elbow, just as he was in the act of
drawing his sword, and so disabled him, that he was conveyed
back to his ship : another shot sank the boat in which captain
Bowen had embarked, whereby 8 seamen perished. In spite
of all this opposition the British effected a landing, and imme-
diately stormed and carried the mole-head, defended by 300 men
and 6 twenty-four pounders. Having spiked these guns our
men were about to advance, when a destructive fire was opened
upon them from the citadel and the houses near the mole-head,
which occasioned the principal part of the loss sustained in this
unfortunate enterprise. Captain Troubridge with his division
not being able to reach the mole, had pushed on shore under a
battery close to the southward of the citadel, as did captain
Waller and a few other boats ; but the surf ran so high that
many of the boats put back, while those that did not return
were instantly filled with water, which destroyed the men's am-
munition. Captain Troubridge having collected a few men,
advanced with captain Waller to the principal square of the
town, the appointed place of rendezvous ; and not meeting the
other officers with their detachments, he sent a serjeant with
two of the inhabitants to summon the citadel. After waiting an
hour, without receiving an answer to his message, captain Trou-
bridge marched to join captains Hood and Miller, who with a
small body of men had made good their landing to the south-
west of the spot where he had disembarked. By day-break,
captain Troubridge's party consisted of no more than 180 sea-
men with small arms, 80 pikemen, and 80 marines, making a
total of 340; and with this force he was meditating an assault.
But as they soon found that the streets were commanded by
field-pieces, and that 8000 armed Spaniards, with 100 French-
men, were approaching them from every point, and considering
that the boats were all stove, and that no possibility existed of
receiving a reinforcement, captain Troubridge sent captain Hood

UNSUCCESSFUL RESULT. 189

with a flag of truce to the governor, offering to capitulate on
terms, that the british troops should be allowed to re-embark
with their arms, take their boats, if saved, or to be provided
with others ; and in case of compliance, he engaged that the
ships should no further molest the town, nor attack any one of
the Canary islands.

Notwithstanding the surprise which the governor expressed
on receiving such a proposal, and under such desperate circum-
stances, he nevertheless acceded to these conditions : captain
Troubridge accordingly marched his men to the mole-head,
and embarked them in boats furnished by the Spaniards. The
governor liberally supplied the retreating invaders with a ration
of biscuit and wine, and removed the british wounded into the
hospital; moreover, he intimated to rear-admiral Nelson that
he was at liberty to send on shore and purchase such refresh-
ments as his squadron might require.

Thus terminated an expedition, which although so fatal and
unsuccessful, furnished abundant proof of the valour and intre-
pidity of british seamen and marines. The melancholy loss
sustained included captain Richard Bowen, lieutenants John
Weatherhead, Theseus ; George Thorpe, Terpsichore ; William
Earnshaw, Leander ; and John Gibson, Fox ; lieutenants of
marines Raby Robinson and William Basham ; 23 seamen, and
14 marines killed : the rear-admiral (right arm amputated), cap-
tains Freemantle and Thompson, lieutenant Douglas, 1 mid-
shipman, 85 seamen, and 15 marines wounded ; 97 seamen and
marines drowned, and 5 missing : total, 1 14 killed and drowned,
105 wounded, and 5 missing, — a loss exceeding the killed, and
not far short of the total of the killed and wounded in the
battle which obtained the glorious victory off Cape St. Vincent.

Battle of Camperdown.
In the early part of October, 1797, admiral Duncan, with
the major part of his ships, were refitting in Yarmouth roads,
leaving a small squadron, under captain Trollope, to watch the

1'JO BATILE OF CAMPEKDOVVX.

dutch fleet in the Texel. On the 9th, the Active cutter appear-
ed at the hack of Yarmouth sands, with the signal flying for an
enemy: all was bustle and confusion, and before noon admiral
Duncan, with eleven sail of the line, put to sea, directing his
course with a fair wind straight across to his old station, and
was joined on the next day by the remaining ships belonging ito
his fleet. On the afternoon of the 10th, the advanced ships
were sufficiently near to count twenty-two sail of vessels at
anchor in the Texel, but these were chiefly merchant-men ; and
on receiving information from captain Trollope of the course of
the enemy, the admiral stood along shore to the southward.
On the 11th, at 7 a.m., the look-out ships made the signal for
the enemy in sight to leeward; and at 8 h. 30 m. a.m. the
dutch squadron was discernible in the quarter pointed out, con-
sisting of four ships of 74 guns, seven of 64 guns, four of 50
guns, one of 44 guns, one of 40 guns, and two ships of 32 guns ;
making fifteen ships of the line and four frigates, commanded
by vice-admiral De AY inter, who hauled to the wind on the lar-
board tack on discovering the british fleet ; and squaring their
main-yards, the Dutch resolutely awaited the approach of their
opponents. The british ships were so scattered, that admiral
Duncan, at 11 h. 10 m., brought to on the starboard tack, to
enable the dull sailers to take their allotted stations; but find-
ing that the enemy were drawing fast in-shore, he made the fol-
lowing signals : " Each ship to engage her opponent — to bear
up — and, for the van to attack the enemy's rear."

At 11 a.m. admiral Duncan made the signal to pass through
the enemy's line and engage to leeward, which was replaced by
the signal for close action. At about half-past noon the M on-
arch, bearing the flag of vice-admiral Onslow, passed under the
stern of the Jupiter, the fourth ship from the rear, and then
ranged close up to leeward, leaving the Haerlem to the Power-
ful. The Monmouth and Russell were soon in action, followed
by the remaining ships of the larboard division.

It was about a quarter of an hour after the Monarch had

ELEVEN SHIPS CAPTUKED. 191

broken the dutch line, that the Venerable, frustrated in her
attempt to pass astern of the Vryheid by the advance of the
States-general, ran under the stern of the latter, whilst the
Triumph closed with the next ship in the line, the Wassanaer.
Meanwhile, the Venerable had ranged close on the lee side of
the Vryheid, with whom the Ardent was warmly engaged on
the opposite side, and a-head by the Bedford, as the latter
cut through the line astern of the Devries.

The ships in the centre of the enemy's line, not being imme-
diately engaged, advanced to the succour of their admiral; and
from their fire, the Venerable and Ardent, as well as the other
ships of the british van, received considerable injury. The
Hercules having caught fire on the poop, bore up out of the line,
and shortly after the flames were extinguished she surrendered,
for it was stated that in their alarm they had thrown their
powder overboard.

The Venerable had received so much damage as to be obliged
to haul off; upon which the Triumph, after compelling the
Wassanaer to surrender, closed with the Vryheid, and this
nobly defended ship, after being engaged by four powerful
opponents, with her three masts over the side, dropped out of the
line and struck her colours. The action ceased with the sur-
render of admiral De Winter's ship, at which time the British
were in possession of the Vryheid and Jupiter, of 74 guns ;
Devries, Gelykheid, Haerlem, Hercules, and Wassanaer, of 64
guns ; Alkmaar and Delft, of 50 guns, and the frigates Monni-
kendam and Ambuscade. The remainder of the dutch ships
bore away towards the land, then only five miles distant ; and
as the british fleet was in nine fathoms water, they hastened to
secure their prizes, to enable them to get clear of the shore, which
was the land between Camperdown and the village of Egmont.

The british fleet consisted of the following ships, which sus-
tained the casualties severally enumerated :

Venerable, 74 guns, admiral A. Duncan, captain W. G. Fairfax,
15 killed, 62 wounded. Brevet-major Thomas Trollope,

192 OFFICERS SERVING IN THE

second-lieutenant Patrick O'Malley, and second-lieutenant
George Chambers (wounded).

Monarch, 74 guns, vice-admiral R. Onslow, captain E. O'Brien,
36 killed, 100 wounded. Captain Thomas Abernethy,
second-lieutenant Richard R. Trotter, second-lieutenant
J. J. Smith (wounded).

Russell, 74 guns, captain H. Trollope, 7 wounded. Second-
lieutenant John Jennings, second-lieutenant Robert Stevens.

Montagu, 74 guns, captain John Knight, 3 killed, 5 wounded.
Captain John Williams, second-lieutenant Thomas Aslett,
second-lieutenant Robert Miles.

Bedford, 74 guns, captain sir T. Byard, 30 killed, 41 wounded.
Captain John Victor, first-lieutenant Richard Bunce, se-
cond-lieutenant James Collins.

Powerful, 74 guns, captain W. O. B. Drury, 10 killed, 78
wounded. Captain Thomas Strickland, lieutenant Francis
Black, second-lieutenant R. G. W. Walker (wounded).

Triumph, 74 guns, captain W. Essington (wounded), 29 killed,
55 wounded. First-lieutenant Thomas A. Parke, second-
lieutenant Henry Steele.

Belliqueux, 64 guns, captain J. Inglis, 25 killed, 78 wounded.
Captain James Cassel (wounded), second-lieutenant Robert
Pinkerton.

Agincourt, 64 guns, captain J. Williamson. Captain T. Hopper.

Lancaster, 64 guns, captain J. Wells, 3 killed, 18 wounded.
Captain Walter Smith, second-lieutenant John Sandys,
(wounded).

Ardent, 64 guns, captain R. R. Burgess, 41 killed, 107 wound-
ed. Captain Richard Cuthbert (wounded), second-lieute-
nant James Marrie.

Veteran, 64 guns, captain G. Gregory, 4 killed, 21 wounded.
Captain-lieutenant Henry Elliott, second-lieutenant R. J.
Mapowder.

Director, 64 guns, captain W. Bligh, 7 wounded. Captain
Thomas Davy, first-lieutenant David Weir-

193

COURT-MARTIAL.

Monmouth, 64 guns, captain J. Walker, 5 killed, 22 wounded.

Captain John Clarke, second-lieutenant Robert Phillips.
Isis, 50 guns, captain W. Mitchell, 2 killed, 21 wounded. First-
lieutenant J. IN. N. D'Esterre, second-lieutenant Charles
Ilea (wounded). .

Adamant, 50 guns, captain W. Hotham, Second-lieutenant
John Owen, second-lieutenant John Maughan.
Total,— 203 killed, and 622 wounded.
The dutch were formed in lme of battle thus : Beschermer
50, Gelvkheid 64, Hercules 64, Devries 64, Vryheid 74 State-
general 74, Wassenaer 64, Batavier 50, Brutus 74 Leyden 64,
Mars 64, Cerberus 64, Jupiter 74, Haerlem 64, Alkmaar 50,

and Delft 50 guns.

The appearance of the british ships at the close of the action
was very unlike what it generally bad been, when opposed to
the navies of France or Spam: not a single lower mast, nor
even a top-mast, was shot away ; nor were the sails and _r.gg.ug
in their usual injured state, for the shot of the dutch ships were
all directed at the hulls of their opponents.

The loss sustained by the Brit.sh amounted to 203 killed, and
622 wounded. Amongst the latter were capta.ns of marines
Richard Cuthbert and J ames Cassel ; ^^l^^^
Chambers (both feet shot off), J. J. Smith, R. G. W. Walker,
John Sandys, and Charles Rea.

The captured ships were mostly dismasted, and the.r hulls
had suffered proportionately with their loss of men, wh.ch
amounted to 540 killed, and 620 wounded.

Notwithstanding the glorious issue of this battle much cen-
sure was cast upon several captains of the british fleet, for not
following the noble example of their gallant chief m closing
with the enemy as they might have done ; and, in consequence of
their keeping aloof, the slaughter fell severely upon those that
so nobly did their duty. Justice required that at least one cap-
tarn should be tried by a court-martial upon two charges: one
for disobedience of signals in not go.ng into action, the other

VOL. I.

194 PHCEBE AND NEREIDE.

for cowardice and disaffection. The court considered the first
charge proved, but not the second ; and sentenced captain Wil-
liamson, of the Agincourt, to be placed at the bottom of the list
of post-captains, and to be rendered incapable of again serving
in the navy. The prosecution of this officer sprang out of the
spirited remonstrance of captain Thomas Hopper of the marines,
who, mortified at the reluctance of his captain to close with the
enemy, exclaimed, "This is the second time that I have seen
the british flag disgraced by the cowardice of my captain."

On the 20th of December, at 10 a.m., the 36-gun frigate
Phoebe, captain Robert Barlow, being in latitude 50° north, lon-
gitude 8° west, discovered and chased the french 36-gun frigate
Nereide on her weather bow. The pursuit continued all the day,
and at 6 p.m. both ships having been taken aback, bore up ; and
at 9 p. m. the Nereide commenced firing her stern chasers, which
did considerable damage to the Phcebe's sails and rigging. At
9h. 10m. p.m., just as the Phoebe was in a situation to com-
mence the attack, the Nereide hove in stays, and as soon as the
Phcebe could reduce her sails she came round, and the two fri-
gates exchanged broadsides in passing on opposite tacks. At
10 p.m. the Phcebe got alongside her opponent, and both ships
having backed their main top-sails, commenced the action in
right earnest, the Nereide placing herself within musket-shot to
windward of her opponent. In a short time the french frigate
fell on board of the Phoebe, but the latter bore away clear of
her; having again hauled up, she renewed her fire, and both
ships continued to engage until 10 h. 45 m. p.m., when the
Nereide hauled down her light, and hailed that she surrendered.
Out of a crew of 330 men, she had 20 killed and 55 wounded ;
whilst the Phoebe, out of 261 men and boys, had only 3 killed
and 10 wounded. Lieutenant Robert D. Stuart, and his de-
tachment of marines, obtained the favourable report of captain
Barlow.

On the occasion of the public thanksgiving in St. Paul's
cathedral, the following order was issued : —

GUARD OF HONOUR. 195

"Admiralty Office, Wth of December, 1797.
Sir,

I am commanded by my lords the commissioners
of the Admiralty, to signify their direction to you to order a
captain's guard of marines, together with the band of the divi-
sion under your command, to march from Chatham to be in
town on the 18th instant, (which, if possible, is to be commanded
by officers who were in the actions of 1st of June, 1794, 14th
of February, or 11th of October last,) in order to attend his
Majesty to St. Paul's cathedral on the 19th instant, to offer
thanksgiving for the many victories obtained by his Majesty's
navy in the course of the present war. This being a king's
guard, the colours must of course accompany it, and their lord-
ships desire it may be selected from the best and most orderly

men at quarters.

I am, sir, &c &c.

(Signed) William Marsden."

" To Major-General Innes, Chatham."

" Chatham, 13th December, 1797.
Agreeable to the orders of my lords commissioners of
the Admiralty, a captain's guard, consisting of 1 captain, 4 sub-
alterns, 8 Serjeants, 8 corporals, 3 drummers, and 120 privates,
with the divisional colours and band, are to march on Friday
morning next to London, to be in readiness to attend his Ma-
jesty to St. Paul's cathedral on the 19th instant, to offer thanks-
giving for the many signal victories obtained by his Majesty's
navy in the course of the present war. The officers for this duty
are major Andrew Burn, first-lieutenants Thomas Piers, Tem-
pleton, M'Leod, and Woodmeston : second-lieutenants Robert
Phillips, Charles Rea, and — Merry."

" D. O., Wth of December, L797.
" To the non-commissioned officers and privates of the
detachment under orders to march to-morrow.
11 From your characters as men and soldiers, you have been

o 2

196 GENERAL INNES's ADDRESS.

selected from the whole of the division to compose a guard of
honour to attend your Sovereign to St. Paul's on the day of
general thanksgiving for the signal victories obtained over the
enemies of your country by his Majesty's naval forces, in which
the corps to which you belong has ever borne a part.

" Upon so solemn an occasion you need not be told, that not
only the eyes of your King, but those of your country will be
fixed upon your conduct on that day. To add further to the
honour of your situation, the officers by whom you will be con-
ducted are such as have distinguished themselves in the different
actions with the enemy's fleets.

" You will not fail to recollect, that the division to which you
belong has well earned the honour of being styled the ' first
division,' from the eminent loyalty it displayed in its answer to
the infamous hand-bill, and which conduct was followed by
every other corps. And although but a small part, you are to
consider yourselves as the representatives of the whole, being-
entrusted with the most sacred pledge for your good behaviour,
— the colours of your division.

" Firmly relying upon your correctness in all points, I look
forward with impatience for your return, to receive my public
thanks."

In the early part of this year a spirit of mutinous dissatisfac-
tion prevailed in the fleet, which has been attributed by some to
the machinations of traitors and corresponding societies, and the
secret influence of foreign enemies ; and by others its origin has
been imputed to the severity of the officers. These may pos-
sibly have conduced to the unhappy measures which followed ;
but we do not apprehend that a rigid discipline was at that
period a source of complaint in the navy. It arose more pro-
bably from a sense of their neglected situation ; for they had
long complained of the smallness of their pay, and the insuf-
ficiency of their provisions, which continued in the same propor-
tion as in the reign of Charles the Second, notwithstanding the
great increase in the price of every article of subsistence. The

MUTINY IN THE FLEET. 197

striking disproportion in the distribution of prize-money was
considered, both by the seamen and marines, as not only in-
equitable, but as a proof of their inferiority in the estimation of
the officers, although it was to their own gallant exertions that
the success in our engagements with the enemy was mainly to
be attributed. These causes of discontent extended throughout
the fleet, and the plan of operations was so well arranged, and
conducted with so much spirit and ability, that it evidently
must have been concerted by persons of no mean capacity ;
who. taking advantage of the neglect the sailors and marines
had so much reason to complain of, instilled in their minds a
spirit of insubordination, which spread through the whole fleet.

The first intimation of this dissatisfied spirit in the navy, was
by some letters addressed to earl Howe, in the months of Feb-
ruary and March ; but no serious outbreak took place until the
return of the Channel fleet to Spithead, when a secret corres-
pondence was arranged between all the ships, and a determina-
tion entered into that no ship should proceed to sea until their
grievances were redressed.

On the 15th of April (Easter Sunday), lord Bridport made
the signal to prepare for sailing: whereupon the crew of the
Queen Charlotte manned the rigging, and gave three cheers ;
and this expression of their mutinous determination was followed
by every other ship in the fleet.

After this open demonstration, the seamen resolved not to
weigh anchor until their just demands were complied with,
unless the enemy's fleet should put to sea ; in which case they
would go out, fight them, and then return and renew their com-
plaints. Every man took an oath to support the cause in which
he had engaged, and ropes were rove at the yard-arm in every
ship, as an indication of the punishment which awaited those
who might betray it. Several officers who were considered ob-
noxious, were sent on shore from various ships ; nevertheless the
strictest discipline was maintained, and the admiral retained the
command of the fleet.

198 MUTINY AT SPITHEAD.

On the 18th two petitions, one to the Admiralty and the
other to the House of Commons, were signed by the delegates,
worded in very respectful language. In their address to the
Parliament they stated, that as all the articles necessary for sub-
sistence had advanced in price full thirty per cent, since the
reign of Charles II., they requested that a proportionate relief
should be granted to them; and they also expressed their dis-
satisfaction that the pensions of Chelsea had been augmented to
thirteen pounds a-year, whilst those of Greenwich still remained
at seven. In their appeal to the Admiralty, they recalled their
lordships' recollection to the services done by the petitioners,
and expressed their determination to uphold the honour of their
country. They then directed the attention of the commissioners
to the inadequacy of the seamen's pay, and the insufficiency of
their provisions ; demanding an increase of both, the continuance
of pay to wounded seamen until cured or discharged, and the
liberty of going on shore when in harbour.

The government now became alarmed, and the board of Ad-
miralty was transferred to Portsmouth, in order to watch the
transactions in the fleet, and to consult on the readiest and most
effectual means of quelling this mutinous combination.

Earl Spencer authorized lord Bridport to inform the ships'
companies that the lords commissioners would recommend it to
the king to propose to Parliament an augmentation of pay of
four shillings a-month to petty-officers and able seamen, three
to ordinary seamen, and two to landsmen ; and that the
wounded seamen should continue in receipt of their pay until
cured or declared unserviceable, and then be allowed a pension,
or admitted into Greenwich Hospital.

To this notification the seamen requested that the long esta-
blished distinctions in the navy of able and ordinary seamen
should be retained, the pay of the former to be raised to one
shilling a-day, and that of the petty-officers and seamen in the
usual proportion; they also requested that the pay of the
marines, while on board, should be the same as that of ordi-

CONFERENCE WITH THE DELEGATES. 199

nary seamen, and that the pensions of Greenwich Hospital
should be increased to ten pounds.

On the 20th of April a notification was made to lord Bridport
from the Admiralty, signifying their lordships' compliance with
the demands of the seamen ; and requiring the crews to return
to their duty on pain of forfeiting their right to smart money,
their claims for pension, and admittance to Greenwich Hospital;
and they were to be held responsible for the consequences that
might ensue from their disobedience. At the same time an offer
was proposed of an unqualified pardon for all that had passed,
provided they submitted to the authority of their officers, and
ceased to hold communication with those who remained in a
state of mutiny.

On the 21st vice-admirals Gardner and Colpoys, and rear-
admiral Pole, went on board the Queen Charlotte to confer
with the delegates, who explicitly informed those officers that
it was the determination of the crews not to agree to any thing
which had not the sanction of Parliament, and guaranteed by
the king's proclamation. Admiral Gardner was so irritated by
this declaration, that he seized one of the delegates by the col-
lar and swore he would have them all hanged, with every fifth
man throughout the fleet. This inconsiderate violence of the
admiral so exasperated the crew of the Queen Charlotte, that it
was with difficulty they could be restrained from an attempt on
the admiral's life.

The delegates from the Royal George having returned to their
ship, and communicated what had happened, the crew resolved
to summon all the delegates, and immediately hoisted the red,
usually called the 'bloody flag,' which, from its sanguinary
import, struck terror through the fleet. The crews then pro-
ceeded to load their guns, and the ships were put in the same
state of defence as when at sea.

On the following day they addressed a letter to the Admiralty
explaining the motives of their conduct, and another to lord
Bridport, in which they styled him their father and friend, and

200 MUTINEERS FIRED UPON.

assuring him of their respect and attachment. This induced his
lordship to re-hoist his flag on the 23rd, which he had ordered
to be struck during the disturbance on the 21st. He then, in a
short and pathetic address, informed the crew that he brought
with him a redress to all their grievances, and the king's pardon
for all that had passed. After some deliberation the offer was
accepted, and the men returned to their duty. It was now
generally supposed that all disputes were finally settled, and
the fleet dropped down to St. Helen's, preparatory to sailing ;
but on the 7th of May the crews refused to put to sea, and the
delegates resolved on holding what they termed a convention
on board the 98-gun ship London, bearing the flag of vice-
admiral Colpoys. But the vice-admiral told them that if they
attempted to meet in convention, he should order the marines to
fire upon them ; and as they persisted, the marines were imme-
diately under arms. A scuffle then ensued, and one of the de-
legates fired at and wounded lieutenant Simms, of the marines.

The seamen of the London now gained the command of the
decks, in defiance of their officers and the marines ; and turning
the muzzles of the foremost guns aft, threatened to fire if any
resistance were made. They at the same time made every pre-
paration for hanging lieutenant Bover, who had shot a man in
attempting to turn the muzzle of the gun towards the quarter-
deck ; but the life of this spirited officer was spared, by the vice-
admiral explaining to them that the lieutenant, as well as him-
self, acted under the orders of the Admiralty. The crew then
confined the admiral and all the officers to their cabins, and
made the marines prisoners. On the 11th the vice-admiral, the
captain, several other captains in the fleet, together with vice-
admiral Gardner and three of his lieutenants, were sent on shore.

During the early part of these disturbances, the late sir Rich-
ard Williams, who was serving on board the Robust as captain
of marines, applied to the captain of the ship for authority to
act, assuring him of the good disposition of the men under his
command, and pledging himself by their efforts to save the

LOYALTY OF CAPTAIN WILLIAMS. 201

ship. But captain Thornborough shrunk from committing the
marines to a possible conflict with the sailors, and recommended
a little delay. In a few minutes the marine officer returned : it
was not yet too late, but not another moment could be spared.
The humane feelings of the commander impelled him still to
temporize ; and when captain Williams returned, it was to say
that his men must now save themselves, and the ship was lost.
The loyalty and determination of this gallant officer so exas-
perated the seamen, that he, in company with some other offi-
cers, was sent out of the ship, and landed on South-sea beach in
the night.

From some mistrust of the government, the seamen renewed
their former menaces of resistance, and lord Howe was selected
by the Admiralty to quell this unexpected insubordination.
His lordship, from his humane disposition and many great qua-
lities, was held in high esteem by those who had served under
him ; and his presence and exhortation happily dissipated the
serious apprehensions that were beginning to prevail. Good
order was restored by the confidence the seamen reposed in the
assurance of their noble chief, and the ships' crews at Plymouth
followed the example, by returning to their duty.

On the 8th of May, Mr. Pitt made an application to Parlia-
ment for a sum of money sufficient for augmenting the pay of
the seamen, and moved that the sum of £436,000 be granted
to answer the additional pay and allowance to the seamen and
marines in the navy. After some expression of censure on the
part of the opposition for the delay of the minister in meeting
the demands of the aggrieved, the bill passed the house, and
immediately received the royal assent by commission.

The suppression of the disturbances in the fleet, without re-
curring to violent measures, but by compliance with their just
demands, produced universal satisfaction ; and it was hoped
that no further disturbance would arise to spread alarm through-
out the nation ; but these reasonable expectations were soon
disappointed by a fresh outbreak in the fleet at the Nore.

202 MUTINY IN YARMOUTH ROADS.

On Sunday the 27th of May, the fleet under the command of
admiral Duncan, consisting of fifteen sail of the line, was lying
in Yarmouth roads, when about 4 p.m. the crew of the 74-gun
ship Venerable, bearing the admiral's flag, mounted the rigging
and gave three cheers. Major Trollope, commanding the de-
tachment of marines on board, instantly got his men under arms,
accompanied by the officers of the ship ; and as the men de-
scended from the rigging, the ringleaders, to the number of six,
were confined in irons. Had an exemplary punishment been
immediately inflicted, the result might probably have prevented
the fatal occurrences which soon followed ; but the admiral, re-
markable for uniting in his own person the most undaunted
courage with the most benevolent heart, forgave the offence,
upon a promise of their never being again guilty of insubordina-
tion. Although the crew of the Venerable, by their subsequent
conduct, amply redeemed their character, yet the outrage which
they had perpetrated had infected the surrounding ships, and in
several instances there was a determination to obtain redress of
their grievances.

On the morning of the 29th of May, when the signal was
made for the fleet to weigh, it was reluctantly complied with,
and such ships as did get under sail soon returned to Yarmouth
roads. Soon afterwards, but in the course of the day, with the
exception of the Venerable and Adamant, who proceeded off
the Texel, the whole returned to Yarmouth roads. Admiral
Duncan, on finding himself deserted by his squadron, turned the
hands up on board the Venerable, and thus addressed his crew :

" My Lads,

" I once more call you together with a sorrowful
heart from what I have lately seen, the disaffection of the fleets:
I call it disaffection, for the crews have no grievances. To be
deserted by my fleet in the face of an enemy, is a crime which,
I believe, never before happened to a british admiral ; nor could
I have supposed it possible. My greatest comfort, under God,

duncan's address, 203

is, that I have been supported by the officers, seamen, and ma-
rines of this ship ; for which, with a heart overflowing with
gratitude, I request you to accept my sincere thanks. I flatter
myself, much good will result from your example, by bringing
those deluded people to a sense of that duty which they owe,
not only to their king and country, but to themselves.

" The british navy has ever been the support of that liberty
which has been handed down to us by our ancestors, and which
I trust we shall maintain to the latest posterity ; and that can
only be done by unanimity and obedience. This ship's com-
pany, and others who have distinguished themselves by their
loyalty and good order, deserve to be, and doubtless will be,
the favourites of a grateful country. They will also have, from
their inward feelings, a comfort which will be lasting, and not
like the floating and false confidence of those who have swerved
from their duty.

" It has often been my pride, with you, to look into the
Texel, and see a foe which dreaded coming out to meet us : my
pride is now humbled indeed ! My feelings are not easily to be
expressed ; our cup has overflowed, and made us wanton. The
all-wise Providence has given us this check as a warning, and I
hope we shall improve by it : on him, then, let us trust, where
our only security can be found. I find there are many good
men among us ; for my own part, I have had full confidence in
all of this ship, and once more beg to express my approbation
of your conduct. May God, who has thus far conducted you,
continue to do so ; and may the british navy, the glory and
support of our country, be restored to its wonted splendour,
and be, not only the bulwark of Britain, but the terror of the
world. But this can only be effected by a strict adherence to
our duty and obedience; and let us pray that the Almighty
God may keep us in the right way of thinking.

God bless you all !"
This unassuming and impressive appeal to the generous cha-

204 MUTINY AT THE NORE.

racter of english seamen, roused them to a proper sense of their
duty, and they declared their resolution to support their admiral
under all circumstances. Their example was followed by the
other ships which had remained with the Venerable in Yar-
mouth roads, and notwithstanding the defection of so consider-
able a part of his squadron, admiral Duncan repaired to his
station, to watch the motions of the dutch fleet.

The principal subject of complaint, on the part of the muti-
neers, was the unequal distribution of prize-money, for which
they blamed their fellow-seamen at Portsmouth. Emboldened
by the strength of their position, they resolved to persevere in,
their demands ; and they proceeded to secure sufficiency of pro-
visions by seizing vessels laden with stores ; and they cut off all
communication with London by placing four of their ships
across the entrance of the Thames.

These transactions were warmly reprobated by the seamen at
Portsmouth and Plymouth; who, admonishing their fellow-sea-
men at the Nore, condemned their proceedings as a scandal to
the name of the british sailor ; and they exhorted them to
turn to their duty, and to be satisfied with the concession
already obtained. But this warning proved ineffectual: the
committee of delegates on board the Sandwich commissioned
captain the earl of Northesk, whom they had in confinement on
board the Montague, to lay their petition before the king in the
name of the fleet. This address was loyal and respectful to his
Majesty, but reflecting severely on his ministers ; and they
threatened, in case of a refusal of their demands, to put imme-
diately to sea. Not receiving an answer to their message, and
learning tiat their proceedings were highly disapproved of by
the nation at large, the mutineers, despairing of success, struck
the red flag, and restored a free passage of the trade to the me-
tropolis. Every ship was now left at its own command, and
they all gradually returned to obedience ; although on board of
some, violent struggles took place between the loyal and the
disaffected parties.

ZEAL OF CAPTAIN WILSON. 205

The principal ringleader of the mutiny, Richard Parker, was
imprisoned, and after a trial on board the IN eptune which lasted
three days, he was sentenced to death. He suffered with great
intrepidity, acknowledging the j ustice of his sentence, and ex-
pressing his hope that mercy might be extended to his asso-
ciates ; but it was considered necessary to make public exam-
ples of the most guilty, who were accordingly tried, condemned,
and executed. Others were sentenced to be severely flogged,
wdiilst several remained under sentence of death until after the
victory obtained by admiral Duncan off Camperdown, when his
Majesty sent a general pardon to those unhappy men. The
mutiny at Portsmouth and Plymouth may be attributed to the
popular maxim, of the inherent right of all men to require an
equitable treatment ; and if denied them, to obtain it by force
if other means proved insufficient. The unjust treatment of
sailors in the navy was undeniable : it was a subject of ordinary
discourse, and the impartial public loudly participated in their
claims for redress.

There certainly was a reasonable pretext for the combinations
at Portsmouth and Plymouth, but the formidable revolt at the
Nore was not impelled by necessity, nor provoked by unjust
aggression or neglect. It was impatience of authority, progres-
sive in its demands, intent on civil discord and convulsion; and
was rather the influence of malcontent incendiaries, than the
genuine spirit of the English sailor. As soon as the determina-
tion of taking the ships to the Nore was made known, the offi-
cers of the Agamemnon declined doing duty, and retired to the
ward-room, where they remained unmolested.

When the mutineers applied to captain David Wilson of the
marines for the keys of the arm-chest, the gallant veteran, find-
ing himself unsupported by captain Fancourt, threw the keys
overboard, telling the delegates to go after them. On board
this ship, as in many others, if the captain had shown a deter-
mination to resist the demands of the seamen, there is little
doubt but the spirit of insubordination would have been crushed.

206 MUTINY AT THE NORE.

Unhappily, there was a yielding timidity, that was soon taken
advantage of by the daring leaders of this combination. Cap-
tain Fancourt declined calling on the marines to act ; for the
late Captain Edward Pelham Brenton of the navy, who was
then a lieutenant of the Agamemnon, states, " that the captain,
when urged to avail himself of the assistance of the marines,
refused to do so, because some of the men would be shot, and
he could not endure seeing them lying suffering on the deck ; but
with a little patience, there would be unanimity again !" The
marines would as zealously have obeyed their officers as they
did on board the Venerable and Adamant, had the opportunity
been afforded them ; and we find that, in the sequel, when
there was some disaffection among the mutineers, the marines
again showed their readiness to support the officers in regaining
the command of their ships.

In the reply of the seamen to the lords commissioners of the
Admiralty there is a passage referring to the claims of the ma-
rines, to this effect : — " And as a further proof of our modera-
tion, and that we are actuated by a true spirit of benevolence
towards our brethren the marines, who are not noticed in your
lordships' answer, we humbly propose that their pay be aug-
mented, while serving on board, in the same proportion as ordi-
nary seamen."

The commissioners, in their consideration of this representa-
tion, resolved to recommend to his Majesty, " that none of the
allowance made to the marines, when on shore, shall be stopped
on their being embarked on board his Majesty's ships. We
have also resolved, that all seamen, marines, and others serving
in his Majesty's ships shall have the full allowance of pro-
visions, without any deduction for leakage or waste."

The contaminating effect of insubordination extended beyond
the discontented crews of the fleet, and evil-disposed persons
on shore contrived to disseminate a spirit of disaffection among
the troops; but their treacherous designs were overthrown by a
firm and vigorous resistance. Serjeant Andrew Gilborn, for his

PROMOTION OF SERJEANT GILBORN. 207

loyalty on the occasion, was promoted to the rank of second-
lieutenant; and in the ensuing year Serjeant O'Neal obtained
a similar reward for conduct equally praiseworthy, in detecting
a conspiracy on board the 80-gun ship Caesar.

The following are copies of letters detailing these circum-
stances : —

" Marine Barracks, Plymouth, 9tk of July, 1797.
Sir,

I have to request you will represent to my lords
commissioners of the Admiralty, that serjeant Andrew Gilborn
of this division was the man who was instrumental in discover-
ing the late mutiny, and whose activity after the discovery en-
abled me to bring the charges home to the individuals who have
suffered for it. His conduct appears to me to deserve some
marked approbation ; and I think if a commission was given
him, in which opinion I am joined by major-general Campbell,
the president of the court-martial, it would be a very strong in-
citement to the non-commissioned officers for similar exertions :
his services have been in his situation various and meritorious,
and he is a child of the service, his father for many years serv-
ing with credit here as a serjeant-major.

If their lordships should not think it right to give him
a commission, I trust they will find it necessary to order him
some other reward, to show good conduct does not pass un-
noticed.

(Signed) J. BOWATER."

" E. Nepean, Esq."

"Admiralty Office, WthJuly, 1797.
Sir,

I have received and read to my lords commis-
sioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 9th instant, recom-
mending serjeant Andrew Gilborn to their lordships as deserv-
ing some marked approbation of his conduct in discovering the
late mutiny, and whose activity afterwards enabled you to bring
the charges home to the individuals who have suffered for it :

208 PROMOTION OF SERJEANT O NEAL

and in return, I am commanded by their lordships to acquaint-
you, that in consequence of what has been stated of his good
conduct, he has been promoted to the rank of second-lieu-
tenant.

(Signed) E. NEPEAN."

" M. G. Bowater."

" Marine Barracks, Plymouth, 26tk August, 1798.
Sir,

I beg you will lay the enclosed letter from captain
Home before my lords commissioners of the Admiralty, and I
have in justice to Serjeant O'Neal to state, that he was also very
active in bringing forward evidence on the marines who muti-
nied, and were shot here the 6th of July, 1797. His family is
also good, and his appearance much above his present situation ;
I therefore think it a part of my duty to say, if their lordships
should be pleased to honour him with a commission, I think it
would be rewarding merit.

(Signed) J. BOWATER."

" E. Nepean, Esq"

"Admiralty Office, 28th August, 1798.
Sir,

I have received and read to my lords commissioners
of the Admiralty your letter of the 26th instant, inclosing one
you had received from captain Home, stating the meritorious
behaviour of serjeant O'Neal in detecting the late conspiracy of
the united Irishmen belonging to his Majesty's ship Caesar, and
strongly recommending him to their lordships for promotion ; at
the same time informing their lordships, that serjeant O'Neal
was also very active in bringing forward evidence on the ma-
rines who mutinied, and were shot at Plymouth in July 1797,
and recommending him to their lordships as meriting the reward
of a commission ; and in return, I am commanded by their lord-
ships to acquaint you, that in consequence of the good conduct
of serjeant O'Neal on the occasions above stated, their lordships
have been pleased to recommend him to his Majesty for a com-

MUTINY OF THE HERMIONE. 209

mission of second-lieutenant of marines, and that you should
take care to let the cause of his promotion be generally known,
as an inducement to other persons who may be placed under
similar circumstances to follow so laudable an example.

(Signed) E. NEPEAN."
" M. G. Bowaterr

On the night of the 22nd of September, the 32-gun fri-
gate Hermione, captain Hugh Pigot, was cruising off the west
end of Porto Rico, when a most daring and unexampled mu-
tiny broke out on board of her. It appears that captain
Pigot had threatened to flog the last man off the mizen top-sail-
yard, after reefing top-sails ; and the men well knowing from
his determined character that he would keep his word, each
hastened to get into the top, and in their eagerness to escape
punishment, two poor fellows, missing their hold, fell on the
quarter-deck, when both were killed. The circumstance being
reported to the captain, he brutally replied, " Throw the lubbers
overboard."

This tyrannical conduct, coupled with a succession of acts of
oppression, produced such increasing discontent, that on the
following night the men loudly expressed their dissatisfaction ;
and on the first-lieutenant going among them to inquire the
cause of the disturbance, the wretches cut his throat with a
tomahawk, and then threw him overboard. The captain, hear-
ing a noise, ran on deck, but was driven back with repeated
wounds ; and his coxswain and three other seamen, having
followed him into his cabin, forced him out of the windows.
In a similar manner the mutineers proceeded with eight other
officers, cutting and mangling their victims in the most cruel
manner; and the only officers that escaped were the master,
gunner, carpenter, and one midshipman (David O'Brien Casey).
We have gone somewhat into the details of this revolting act
of cruelty to show, that although the tyrannous conduct of cap-
tain Pigot had driven the men to desperation, yet the marines

VOL. I. p

210 DEVOTED LOYALTY.

were not unmindful of the trust reposed in them ; and the fol-
lowing evidence of the captain's steward, extracted from the
minutes of the court-martial, testify that, even under such ag-
gravating circumstances, a marine was still faithful to the trust
reposed in him. " On the 21st of September, about 11 p.m., I
left the cabin, after extinguishing the light, and went to my
hammock under the half-deck, where I had lain but a few
minutes, when I heard a confused noise of people round the
main-mast. The next thing I heard was, the bulk-head of the
cabin burst through, and a number of people rushing in. I im-
mediately jumped out of my hammock, and saw the sentinel
at the cabin door, bleeding. I entreated him, for God's sake, to
tell me what was the matter : he said that some of the people
had broke into the cabin, and were murdering captain Pigot,
begging me at the same time to keep out of the way, as they
had been asking for me." This clearly proves that the marine
was firm to his duty, and by resisting the mutineers in their
attempt to enter the cabin, he probably fell a victim to his
loyalty. The captain, three lieutenants, purser, surgeon, cap-
tain's clerk, one midshipman and lieutenant of marines, were
murdered. The ship was carried into La Guyra, a port of the
Spanish main; and was recaptured by the boats of the Surprise,
as related in our account of the transactions of 1799.

1798.

During the early part of the year, the french government kept
England in a state of alarm by the threat of an invasion ; but
while troops were assembling on the northern shores of France
for the purpose of putting this plan into execution, a more
serious and secret expedition was preparing at Toulon, which
sailed from that port on the 19th of May under the command
of general Buonaparte, as we shall presently relate.

Lord Bridport, while cruising off Brest on the 21st of April
with the Channel fleet, consisting of ten sail of the line, detached
the Mars and Ramillies, of 74 guns, with the Jason frigate, in

MARS AMD HERCULE. 211

chase of some suspicious vessels. The Mars, captain Alexander
Hood, having distanced her companions, continued the pursuit
of a ship of the line, which at 7 h. 30 m. p. m. evinced an inten-
tion to escape through the passage Du Raz. At 8h. 30 m. p.m.,
the Bee du Raz bearing north by east two or three miles, the
french 74-gun ship Hercule, captain L'Heritier, finding it im-
possible to work up against the strong current, came, to an
anchor, and furled sails. At 9h. 15 m., the Mars having closed
with the Hercule, both ships commenced the action at the same
time, and captain Hood finding that the current would not
admit of remaining under weigh, the Mars ranged a-head, let
go her anchor, and then dropped alongside of her opponent at
9 h. 30 m. p. m. The cannonade continued until 10 h. 30 m., at
which time, the Hercule having failed in two attempts to board,
and being very much shattered, a french officer hailed that they
had surrendered. The loss sustained by the Mars, out of a crew
of 634 men and boys, amounted to her commander, captain
Joseph White of the marines, and 20 killed, and 8 missing;
2 lieutenants, 1 midshipman, and 57 wounded. The Hercule
had 290 men killed and wounded. The subalterns of marines
on board the Mars, were first-lieutenant Christopher Epworth,
second-lieutenants J. H. Hawkins and Walter Taite.

On the 26th of June the 36-gun frigate Sensible, on her pas-
sage from Malta to Toulon with despatches, was fallen in with
by the 38-gun frigate Seahorse, captain Edward James Foote,
who, after a chase which continued from 4 p. m. until 4 a.m. on
the 27th, came up with the trench frigate, and a close action
was maintained for about eight minutes ; when the Sensible,
having lost 18 men killed, her captain and 36 wounded, hauled
down her colours. Lieutenant Francis Wemyss was serving on
board the Seahorse.

On the 13th of May the 36-gun frigate Flora, captain R. G.
Middleton, chased the french brig-corvette Mondovi, mounting
16 guns with a crew of 68 men, into the harbour of Cerigo, in
the island of that name in the Archipelago ; and on the same

p 2

212

LION AND DOROTEA.

evening the boats of the frigate, under the orders of lieutenant
William Russell, attacked the Mondovi, in face of a heavy fire
from the brig and the boats which commanded the entrance of
the harbour. She was nevertheless gallantly boarded, and
brought out with no greater loss on the part of the British than
one marine killed; lieutenant Richard Parry of the marines (who
was a volunteer on this service), and seven wounded. The
Mondovi lost 1 killed, 4 drowned, and 8 wounded.

On the 15th of July, at 9 a. m., the Lion of 64 guns, captain
Manley Dixon, when near Carthagena, fell in with four Spanish
34-gun frigates, who were formed close in order of battle, on
the larboard line of bearing. The third from their van, the
Dorotea, having her fore top-mast gone, the Lion bore down
and made this ship her principal object of attack. The other
three frigates tacked in succession, and passed the Lion very
gallantly within musket-shot, receiving the broadside of the
british ship as they passed. Captain Dixon continued to pur-
sue the Dorotea, who kept up a galling fire from her chase
guns. The three frigates having again tacked, made a second
attempt to support their friend ; but they were repulsed by a
broadside from the Lion as she closed with the Dorotea, who
still nobly defended herself, whilst her consorts made a third
and ineffectual attempt to rescue her. The Lion now wore
round on the same tack as the Dorotea, who, being abandoned
by her friends, with her mizen-mast over the side, and hav-
ing sustained a loss of 20 men killed and 23 wounded, hauled
down the Spanish colours. The Lion suffered considerably in
her masts and rigging, but she had only 2 men wounded. The
officers of marines were lieutenants Philip Patriarche and John
C. Hoskins.

For some months past great exertions were made in the
southern ports of France in equipping the expedition intended
for the invasion of Egypt, and on the 19th of May this formi-
dable armament sailed from Toulon. It consisted of thirteen
sail of the line, eight frigates, two Venetian sixty-fours, six fri-

FRENCH EXPEDITION. 213

gates en flute, with various smaller vessels ; numbering together
seventy-two vessels of war, and when joined by vessels from
other ports, a total of 400 transports. This immense fleet, whose
crews amounted to 10,000 men, conveyed 36,000 troops, and
the whole force was under the command of Napoleon Buona-
parte.

The fleet first steered for Genoa, and having been joined by
the transports in that port, stood across to Cape Corse, and
remained in sight of the eastern coast of Corsica until the 30th.
It then sailed along the island of Sardinia, in expectation of the
convoy from Civita Vecchia ; but after waiting until the 7th of
June, the fleet proceeded without the looked-for reinforcement.
On the 8th the expedition quitted the coast of Sicily, and on
the 9th, when in sight of the islands of Goza and Malta, was
joined by the Civita division of transports. The troops effected
a landing on the 10th, and on the 12th the islands of Malta,
Goza, and Comino surrendered by capitulation.

After a stay of four days, Buonaparte quitted Malta on the
19th of June, leaving general Vaubois with 4000 troops in pos-
session of the island. The expedition steered a direct course to
the eastward, the advanced frigates detaining and destroying
every vessel they fell in with, to prevent the circulation of in-
telligence respecting the probable destination of the fleet ; and
on the morning of the 1st of July, the minarets of Alexandria
were discerned by the leading ships. Learning that an english
squadron had appeared on the coast, Buonaparte expedited the
landing of part of the army ; and on the 2nd, after an action
in which the French had many killed and wounded, including
general Kleber among the latter, they obtained possession of
Alexandria. In the course of the next day the remainder of
the troops were disembarked, and the ships of the line and
four frigates proceeded to the bay of Aboukir; where we take
leave of them for a short time, to introduce a subject of greater
interest.

Rear-admiral sir Horatio Nelson having returned to England

214 NELSON IN PURSUIT

to recruit his health, after the unsuccessful and disastrous attack
on Santa Cruz, arrived off Cadiz in the Vanguard on the 29th
of April, and on the 2nd of May repaired to Gibraltar, where,
being joined by the Orion and Alexander, seventy-fours, two
frigates and a sloop, he sailed thence on the 9th. On the 22nd,
in a heavy gale, the Vanguard carried away her main and mizen
top-masts, and then her fore-mast, and consequently proceeded
to the harbour of St. Pietro, in Sardinia, in company with the
two other line of battle ships. Having got up a jury fore-mast,
the Vanguard and her companions put to sea on the 27th, and
steered for the rendezvous off Toulon, which they reached on
the 31st. On the 5th of June the Mutine brig apprized sir
Horatio that ten ships of the line were on their way to join
him ; and on the evening of the 7th this reinforcement placed
themselves on the orders of the rear-admiral, making his force
thirteen sail of the line, one of 50 guns, and a brig.

The squadron, after being some days detained by a calm,
steered towards the island of Corsica, where it arrived on the
12th, and then pursued its course along the shore of Tuscany,
with a fine breeze at north-west. On the 17th they stood into
the bay of Naples, and learning that the French had coasted
the island of Sardinia, and probably proceeded to Malta, the
rear-admiral again got under sail ; but the light airs during the
two succeeding days so retarded the progress of the squadron,
that it was not until the morning of the 20th that it entered the
straits of Mes-ina. Receiving intelligence of the French being
in possession of Malta and Goza, and that their fleet was lying
at anchor at the latter place, the British were soon clear of the
straits, and the island of Malta was now their destination. At
day-break on the 22nd it was ascertained from a ragusian brig,
which had the day before passed through the french fleet, that
the enemy quitted Malta on the 18th, with the wind at north-
west; it was therefore conjectured that Alexandria was their
destination, and accordingly the british fleet immediately bore
up, and steered south-east under all sail.

Or THE FRENCH FLEET. 215

From the 22nd to the 28th only three vessels were spoken,
and from these no intelligence could be obtained, nor was there
any appearance of the enemy as the harbours of Alexandria
opened to their view. A retrograde movement was now resolved
upon, taking a more northerly course, and it was not until the
4th of July that the British made the coast of Natalia. The
fleet continued beating to windward until the 16th, when the
weather becoming more favourable, it anchored on the 19th in
the harbour of Syracuse ; and having obtained provisions and
water, put to sea again on the 25th. It is remarkable that the
two fleets crossed each other's track on the 22nd of June ; but
as the weather was hazy, and the British sailed in close order,
having no frigates to spread as look-out ships, the enemy was
not discovered. It is equally striking, that as the british squa-
dron quitted the shore on its departure from Alexandria, it was
actually seen from the Pharos tower on the morning of the 30th,
the very day on which the French, in the evening, made their
appearance on the coast of Egypt. On leaving Syracuse, the
rear-admiral directed his course to the Morea ; for as the enemy
had not been seen in the Archipelago, nor in the Adriatic, and
not gone down the Mediterranean, no other conclusion remained
but that Egypt had been their destination. On the 28th the
Culloden was despatched to Coron, whence she brought intelli-
gence that the french fleet had been seen about four weeks since
on the coast of Candia, steering south-east. The british ships
now pursued that course, and on the 1st of August, at 10 a. m.,
the minarets of Alexandria made their welcome appearance •
but although the french flag was flying on the walls of the city,
the enemy's fleet was not discovered. This disappointment
was of short duration, for at 1 p. m. the Zealous signalled that
seventeen ships of war, thirteen or fourteen of them in line of
battle, were at anchor in a bay upon her larboard bow. The
british fleet instantly hauled up, steering to the eastward under
top-gallant sails, with a fine breeze at north-north-west. The
enemy's fleet, which had been signalled by the Zealous, consist-

21rj

BATTLE OF THE NILE.

ed of one ship of 120 guns, three of 80 guns, nine of 74 guns,
and four frigates.

On first taking up this anchorage, vice-admiral Brueys held
a council of war, composed of the flag-officers and captains, to
determine whether, in case of attack, the fleet should engage at
anchor or under sail. All the officers, except rear-admiral Blan-
quet, approved of the fleet's remaining at anchor ; but he main-
tained, that it was only when a fleet could be supported by
strong forts crossing each other in their fire, that any advantage
could be gained by anchoring; and as the majority was against
his opinion, the rear-admiral requested that the Franklin might
be placed as one of the seconds to the commander-in-chief.
Ihis request was complied with, and the ships were formed in
line a-head in the following order : — Guerrier 74, Conquerant
74, Spartiate 74, Aquilon 74, Peuple-Souverain 74, Franklin
80, Orient 1 20, Tonnant 80, Heureux 74, Mercure 74, Guillaume
Tell 80, Genereux 74, Timoleon 74, with the four frigates form-
ing an inner line. The van ship bore from Aboukir island
south, distance a mile and three quarters, and between each
line of battle ship the distance was about 160 yards; so that
the line occupied a space of about a mile and five-eighths, but
the line was not a straight one; from the Orient, the centre ship,
the van bore north-west, the rear ship south-east by south, and
the Guerrier and Timoleon from each other about north-west
half north, and south-east half south ; hence the line formed an
obtuse angle, having its projecting centre towards the sea. Be-
sides the bomb-vessels, which were stationed on the flanks of
the line, a battery was erected on Aboukir island, mounting 4
twelve-pounders, a few pieces of lighter calibre, and 2 thirteen-
inch mortars. As soon as the french admiral was convinced
that the British intended an immediate attack, he directed the
necessary preparations for battle, and ordered each ship to lay
out an anchor on the south-east, and to send a stream cable to
the next ship astern of her, making a hawser fast to it, in order
to spring her broadside towards the enemy.

ORDER OF BATTLE. 217

The british ships at 4 p.m. were ordered to prepare to anchor
by the stern, and shortly afterwards the admiral made the sig-
nal to attack the enemy's van and centre ; thus occupying the
attention of only one half their line, while it was intended to
place a british ship on the bow and quarter of every french ship
of the seven brought into action. At 5 h. 30 m., the fleet being
nearly abreast of the shoal, the signal was made to form in line
of battle ahead and astern of the admiral, as most convenient ;
and at 6 p. m. captain Hood, in the Zealous, by careful sound-
ing, led the fleet, which on rounding the shoal brought the
wind on their starboard beam, in the following order : — Goliath,
Zealous, Orion, Audacious, Theseus, Vanguard, Minotaur, De-
fence, Bellerophon, Majestic, Leander, with the Culloden at
some distance to the northward, and beyond her the Alexander
and Swiftsure, using every exertion to close with the squadron.
Soon after the british ships had thus formed, they hoisted their
colours, with jacks in various parts of the rigging.

At about 6h. 20 m. p.m., the french line having also hoisted
their colours, the Conquerant and the Guerrier opened their fire
upon the Goliath and Zealous, then in line close to each other,
and at some distance a-head of the other ships. At 6h. 30 m.
the Goliath crossed the head of the french line, and after pouring
her broadside into the bows of the Guerrier, bore up for that
ship's inner bow ; but the anchor did not bring the ship up until
abreast of the larboard quarter of the second ship, the Con-
querant, and she then commenced a warm action with the latter.
The Zealous, following the Goliath, brought up abreast of the
inner and larboard-bow of the Guerrier, which was precisely
the position captain Foley intended the Goliath to have taken,
and in less than five minutes her fire brought down the Guer-
rier's fore-mast, just at the moment the sun was sinking into
the horizon ; and this auspicious commencement of the battle
was greeted with three cheers from the british fleet. The Orion,
after firing at the Guerrier in passing, rounded the Zealous on
her starboard side, and passed the Goliath on the same side,

218 FORTUITOUS CIRCUMSTANCE.

intending to bring up abreast of the fourth ship, the Aquilon;
but the Serieuse frigate having presumed to fire at the Orion,
the latter opened upon her so effectually with her starboard
guns, that the frigate, after being dismasted, drifted upon the
shoal and sank : the Orion then dropped her anchor, and brought
up, head to wind, abaft the Peuple-Souverain. Previous to the
delay occasioned by the interruption of the Serieuse, the Theseus
and Audacious had previously anchored ; the former, steering-
close a-head of the Guerrier, and passing between the Zealous
and Goliath, into whose opponents she successively fired in
passing, anchored by the stern in line a-head of the Goliath,
and abreast of the Spartiate. In the mean time the Audacious
had anchored on the outside of the line, and on the starboard
bow of the Conquerant.

Having detailed the proceedings of the leading ships, and
explained the manner in which they took up their respective
positions, it must be evident that this advantageous manoeuvre
arose from pure accident, and was never premeditated by the
victorious leader of the attacking squadron : it was entirely
owing to the circumstance of the Goliath not bringing up in
the situation assigned to her, and which incident induced cap-
tain Hood to place the Zealous in the position intended for the
leading british ship. The two succeeding ships availed them-
selves of the opportunity which presented itself, of doubling in
upon the van of the enemy ; and by thus bringing their whole
force upon the van and centre, the British were enabled to
subdue a considerable portion of their opponents, and then fall
upon the rear of the french line ; which, until that moment, had
been incapable of taking any part in the action.

The Vanguard, after receiving the fire of the van-ships as she
edged away, anchored within eighty yards of the starboard
beam of the Spartiate, at about 6 h. 40 m. p. m. ; and a few
minutes afterwards the Minotaur, placing herself a-head of the
Vanguard, brought up abreast of the Aquilon. At about 7 p.m.
the Defence anchored on the starboard side of the Peuple-

FOUR SHIPS SURRENDER. 219

Souverain, whilst the Bellerophon and Majestic passed on with
the intention of attacking the ships in the centre and rear ; and
shortly after 7 p. m. the Bellerophon dropped her stern anchor
abreast of the Orient. Soon afterwards the Majestic brought
up abreast of the Tonnant, from whose heavy fire the british
ship suffered severely, and lost her gallant captain.

To return to the proceedings in the van: the Guerrier con-
tinued to defend herself until 9 p.m., although exposed to the
constant fire of the Zealous, who had placed herself in a po-
sition of comparative safety ; and after being assailed by the
raking broadsides of three other ships, and having lost her
three masts, with more than 350 men killed and wounded, the
Guerrier was taken possession of by the Zealous, whilst the
latter had only seven men wounded. The Conquerant, unable
to contend against her three opponents, was the first ship that
surrendered : her fore and mizen-masts were shot away, and
her main-mast in a falling state ; and she sustained a heavy loss
in killed and wounded. Of her principal opponents, the Goliath
had 21 killed and 41 wounded; whilst the Audacious, from her
secure position on the larboard bow, had only 1 killed and 35
wounded.

The Spartiate, after sustaining the fire of the Theseus, Van-
guard, and Minotaur, and from the quarter-guns of the Auda-
cious, and having lost all her masts, struck her colours about
the same time as the Guerrier. The Vanguard was exposed to
the raicing fire of the Aquilon as she sprung her broadside,
until the Minotaur gave the french ship full occupation ; and
from the united fire of the Aquilon and Spartiate, the Vanguard
sustained a loss of 30 killed, and 76 wounded.

The Aquilon, assailed by the Minotaur on her starboard side,
and by the Theseus on the inner side of the line, was soon
reduced to the same dismasted state as her three companions
a-head ; and at 9 h. 25 m. p.m. she struck her colours. The
Minotaur had 23 killed and 64 wounded : and the Theseus 5
killed and 30 wounded.

220 BELLEROPHON QUITS THE LINE.

The Peuple-Souverain lost her fore and main-masts by the
close fire of the Defence and raking broadsides of the Orion,
as the latter lay on the french ship's larboard quarter. The
cable of the Defence having been shot away, she re-anchored
abreast of the Orient. The Defence had only 4 killed and 11
wounded ; while the Orion sustained a loss of 13 killed and 29
wounded.

The Bellerophon, from being exposed to the formidable broad-
side of the Orient, lost her mizen-mast, and then her main-mast
at about 8 p.m. At about 8 h. 20 m. p.m., being entirely dis-
abled, she cut her stern cable, and setting her sprit-sail, wore
clear of the fire of her powerful opponent : but she had scarcely
filled her fore top-sail, than her shattered fore-mast fell over her
larboard bow. In drifting along the french rear, she received a
broadside from the Tonnant, and some distant shots from the
Heureux. The loss sustained by the Bellerophon amounted to
49 killed, and 14S wounded.

The Majestic anchored so close to the Tonnant, that her
captain was killed by a musket-ball, about half an hour after
the firing commenced. About 8 h. 30 m., finding she was
drifting athwart the hawse of the Heureux, the Majestic slipped
her stern cable, and letting go her best bower, brought up head
to wind, having the Heureux on her starboard quarter; and
shortly afterwards the Tonnant, after slipping her cable in
consequence of the fire on board the Orient, brought up on
the larboard bow of the british ship.

When the Alexander and Swiftsure had reached the island of
Aboukir, and expected soon to be round the reef that lies off its
northern extremity, the wind shifted from north-north-west to
north, which caused the Alexander, then on the lee bow of the
Swiftsure, to tack, and consequently gave the lead to the latter
ship. The Culloden having unfortunately grounded shortly
after the commencement of the action, stuck fast on the reef off
the island, and her signals enabled her two friends, as they suc-
cessively came up, to round the shoal in safety.

EXPLOSION OF L'ORIENT. 221

About 8 p.m., just as the Bellerophon had withdrawn from
the contest, the Swiftsure brought up by the stern, about half a
ship's length from the spot the former had quitted, and opened
a fire from her foremost guns at the starboard bow of the Orient,
and her aftermost at the quarter of the Franklin ; whilst the
Leander, who had recently arrived, (on account of her detention
in rendering the Culloden assistance,) kept under weigh in the
vacant space left by the Peuple-Souverain when she quitted the
line, and poured a raking fire into the bows of the Franklin
with impunity. Shortly afterwards the Alexander came rapidly
up, passed through the opening which the Tonnant had left, and
dropped her bow anchor, so as to bring her broadside to bear on
the larboard quarter of the three-decker. About 9 p.m. a fire
broke out on the poop of the Orient, which after spreading
along the decks, and ascending the rigging with terrific rapi-
dity, reached the magazine; and about 10 p.m. this superb ship
blew up with a tremendous explosion. The vibration shook the
ships severely, but the flaming mass very fortunately flew over
the Swiftsure, whilst a few fragments fell on board the Alexander.
This melancholy catastrophe was so impressive, that it was full
ten minutes before the mighty strife was renewed. By this
time the wind, as if just recovering from the trance into which
all nature had been hushed, freshened up; and as the breeze
ruffled the water's surface, it seemed to bring reanimation to
the appalled senses of the combatants.

The Franklin was the first to recommence hostilities by
firing her lower deck guns at the Defence and Swiftsure, who
returned the fire with powerful effect, as they lay close on her
starboard bow and quarter. This gallantly fought ship, without
a second ahead or astern, continued to defend herself until her
main and mizen-masts went by the board ; and being incapable
of further opposition, she struck her colours about midnight.
At this time no other french ship but the Tonnant continued
the cannonade, while the Swiftsure, owing to the position of the
Alexander, could make little or no return to the Tonnant's gall-

222 GLORIOUS RESULT.

ing fire. The Majestic was still the principal opponent of this
formidable ship, whose heavy fire brought down her main and
mizen-masts at 3 a.m. on the 2nd ; and shortly afterwards the
Tonnant's three lower masts were shot away, but even this cir-
cumstance did not compel her to strike her colours.

At 4 a.m., just as the day broke, the firing recommenced be-
tween the Tonnant, Guillaume Tell, Genereux, and Timoleon on
one side, and the Alexander and Majestic on the other. This
renewal of the action brought the Theseus and Goliath to the
spot, when the Artemise frigate fired a broadside and struck
her colours, but she shortly afterwards caught fire and blew up.
In the mean time the four french ships had dropped so far to
leeward, as to be almost out of gun-shot of the British. The
Goliath, Theseus, Alexander, and Leander stood towards the
Heureux and Mercure, who had run themselves on shore to the
southward of the bay, and compelled them to surrender ; but
whilst attending to these ships, the Genereux and Guillaume
Tell, with the frigates Justice and Diane, took the opportunity
of getting under weigh, and effected their escape ; receiving the
fire of the Zealous in passing, which they returned, without
doing any inj ury except to the sails and rigging.

The Tonnant and Timoleon were lying ashore mere wrecks,
but both kept their colours flying until the approach of the
Theseus and Leander on the morning of the 3rd, when the
Tonnant surrendered ; and shortly afterwards the Timoleon,
having been set on fire by her crew, exploded. Thus terminated
this memorable battle, leaving in the hands of the British two
ships of 80, and seven of 74 guns ; whilst only two of the line
and two frigates made their escape.

The following is a statement of the british ships, in the order
in which they led into action on the 1st of August, 1798, show-
ing the number of killed and wounded ; also the names of the
officers of marines serving on board the respective ships : —
Goliath, 74 guns, captain T. Foley, 21 killed, 41 wounded.
Lieutenants Charles Harvey and William Bulkley.

OFFICERS OF MARINES. 223

Zealous, 74 guns, captain Samuel Hood, 1 killed, 7 wounded.
First-lieutenant William Vivion, second-lieutenant Wil-
liam Judson.

Orion, 74 guns, captain sir James Saumarez, 13 killed, 29
wounded. Captain John B. Savage, second-lieutenant
Thomas Weaver.

Audacious, 74 guns, captain Davidge Gould, 1 killed, 35
wounded. Captain James Weir, lieutenants Richard
McCarthy and Augustus Bozon.

Theseus, 74 guns, captain R. W. Miller, 5 killed, 30 wounded.
Captain Thomas Oldfield, first-lieutenant George Beatty,
second-lieutenant Arthur Hull.

Vanguard, 74 guns, rear-admiral sir Horatio Nelson, K.B., cap-
tain Edward Berry, 30 killed, 76 wounded. Captain-lieu-
tenant William Faddy (killed), first-lieutenants Thomas
Young and Christopher Noble, and second-lieutenant J.
Hair.

Minotaur, 74 guns, captain T. Louis, 23 killed, 64 wounded.
Second-lieutenant John S. Kirchner (killed), second-lieu-
tenant John Jewell (wounded).

Defence, 74 guns, captain J. Peyton, 4 killed, 11 wounded.
Captain William Binks, second-lieutenant James Wheeler.

Bellerophon, 74 guns, captain H. D'Esterre Darby, 49 killed,
148 wounded. Captain John Hopkins (mortally wounded),
second-lieutenant John Wright.

Majestic, 74 guns, captain G. B. Westcott (killed), 50 killed,
143 wounded. Captain George Dunsmuire, first-lieutenant
Robert Hart.

Leander, 50 guns, captain T. B. Thompson, 14 wounded. No
marine officer.

Culloden, 74 guns, captain T. Troubridge. Captain-lieutenant
James Knox, lieutenant Richard Barford.

Alexander, 74 guns, captain A. J. Ball, 14 killed, 58 wounded.
Captain John Creswell (wounded), first-lieutenants Thomas
B. Adair and John Scobell.

224 ANECDOTE OF CAPTAIN SAVAGE.

Swiftsure, 74 guns, captain B. Hallowell, 7 killed, 22 wounded.
Captain Charles Allen, first-lieutenant James Short, second-
lieutenant John Witts.

Total, — 218 killed, and 678 wounded.
This glorious victory obtained rewards for the officers of
every class. The rear-admiral was created a peer of Great
Britain by the title of baron Nelson of the Nile and of Burham
Thorpe, with a pension of £2000 per annum from the Parlia-
ment of England, and £1000 from that of Ireland. The senior
lieutenants of each ship, and many inferior officers, were pro-
moted; but the only reward conferred upon the marines was
the brevet rank of major on the senior officer serving in the
squadron, — captain Thomas Oldfield.

It is related of the late sir John Savage, who was captain of
marines on board the Orion in the eventful battle before us, that
when the ship was approaching her station, he thus laconically
addressed his men as they were drawn up on the poop : — " My
lads, do you see these ships; and do you see that land ? Well,
the ships are those of the enemy, and that is the land of Egypt;
and if you don't give those Frenchmen a d — d good licking, you
will very soon be in the house of bondage !"

The 50-gun ship Leander sailed from before Alexandria on
the 6th of August, with the despatches from rear-admiral sir
Horatio Nelson to the commander-in-chief on the Mediterranean
station ; and on the 18th, when within six miles of the west end
of Goza de Candia, discovered a large ship coming towards her
with a fine breeze from the southward, whilst the Leander lay
becalmed. The stranger was the french 74-gun ship Genereux,
which had escaped from the battle of the Nile, mounting 80
guns, with a crew of 936 men and boys ; while the Leander
mounted 51 guns of smaller calibre, and had only 282 men and
boys on board.

At 9 a.m. the Genereux ranged up within half gun-shot on
the Leander's larboard and weather quarter, both ships being
under a press of sail; but finding an action inevitable, the

LEANDER AND GENEREUX.

9&R

Leander took in her canvas, and hauled up to bring her broad-
side to bear. On a shot being fired by the Genereux, a vigor-
ous cannonade commenced on both sides, the ships nearing each
other until 10 h. 30 m. a. m., when the french ship struck the
Leander on her larboard bow, and dropped alongside. A spirit-
ed and well-directed fire from the marines on the poop of the
Leander, commanded by serjeant James Dair, (no officer having
arrived on board since the death of lieutenant Raby Robinson,
who was killed at Tenerifie,) and from the small-arm men of the
quarter-deck, prevented the enemy in their attempts to board.

A light air springing up, the Genereux forged a-head and dis-
entangled herself from the Leander, now lying with her mizen-
mast over the starboard quarter, her fore top-mast over the lar-
board bow, and both her lower yards on the booms. In this
crippled condition the Leander, by the aid of her sprit-sail, wore
under the stern of her antagonist, and raked her with great
effect. The cannonade continued without intermission until 3 h.
30 m. p.m., when the Genereux, by the aid of a light breeze,
was enabled to station herself on the larboard bow of her oppo-
nent. The Leander was now totally ungovernable ; not a stick
standing, save the bowsprit and the shattered remains of the
fore and main-masts, and the ship's hull was cut to pieces. In
this defenceless state the Leander, on being hailed by her oppo-
nent, signified she had surrendered. Her loss amounted to 35
killed and 57 wounded, out of a reduced crew of 282 men and
boys. Of this number serjeant James Dair and 7 marines were
killed, and 9 privates wounded.

The defence of this nobly-fought ship is so unparalleled, in
contending six hours against an enemy of such superior force,
that we give the comparative statement of their armament: —

LEANDER.

GENEREUX

Broadside guns

^ number
[ lbs.

26 .
432 .

40
1024

Crew

number

282 .

936

Size

tons

1052

1926

VOL. I.

226

DEFENCE OF ST. MARCOUF.

In July 1795, sir Sidney Smith, when in command of the
Diamond frigate, took possession of the two islands of St. Mar-
couf, situated off the river Isigny, on the coast of Normandy, and
about four miles from the shore. The islands, which are close
to one another, and each about 200 yards in length and 120 in
in breadth, were mounted with several pieces of cannon, and
garrisoned by a detachment of invalids and a party of marines,
under lieutenants J. Maughan, — Ensor, and — Lawrence, with
a proportion of seamen ; and the whole under the command of
lieutenant Charles P. Price, of the navy.

On the night of the 7th of April an expedition, consisting of
thirty-three flat-bottomed boats carrying troops, accompanied
by some gun-brigs, sailed from Havre to attack these islands ;
but meeting writh the Diamond and Hydra frigates, they were
driven back and stood into Caen, where they were reinforced by
seven heavy gun-brigs and forty sail of boats. After three
weeks' blockade, this formidable flotilla reached the road of La
Hogue, which is situated about half-way between Cape Bar-
fleur and the islands, and they waited until the neap tides, when
the current would offer less opposition to their progress.

On the 6th of May, at midnight, the guard-boat made the
signal for the enemy's approach, and although the french offi-
cers were heard giving their orders, the night was so dark that
none of the boats were visible. The attacking force consisted
of fifty-two gun-brigs and flat-bottomed boats, having on board
above 5000 men. At day-break on the 7th, the flotilla was
seen drawn up in line opposite to the south-west front of the
western redoubt, and a fire was instantly opened upon them
from seventeen pieces of cannon, consisting of 4 four-pounders,
2 six-pounders, and 6 twenty-four pounder long guns, and 2
thirty-two pounder carronades. The brigs remained at the dis-
tance of three hundred yards, in order to batter the redoubt
with their long guns, while the boats rowed up until within
musket-shot of the battery ; but the discharge of round, grape,
and canister, poured such destruction among them, that they

ENEMY DEFEATED. 227

were soon compelled to seek their safety in flight. Six or seven
boats were seen to go down, and one small flat was afterwards
towed in, bottom upwards, on board of which some papers were
found, stating that she had a crew of 144 persons, including 129
men of the second Boulogne battalion.

The loss sustained by the British in this affair amounted to
1 marine killed, 2 marines and 2 seamen wounded ; a loss much
less in amount than might have been expected from the fire
of upwards of 80 long guns, many of which were thirty-six,
and none less than eighteen-pounders. According to the
french account, their loss amounted to several hundred in
killed and wounded. Owing to the calm state of the weather,
the british squadron were unable to intercept the flotilla, and
consequently they got back to the Hogue without further loss.
A french squadron, consisting of the Hoche 74 guns, com-
modore Bompart, with eight frigates, having on board 3000
troops with a large train of artillery, sailed from Brest on the
evening of the 6th of September, with an intention of invading
Ireland. On the following morning they were discovered by
the Ethalion, who continued to watch their movements; and
by the time the french ships arrived on the Irish coast, a consi-
derable british force was in pursuit. On the 11th of October,
when off Tory island, the leading frigate got sight of the enemy ;
and on the 12th, at day -break, the British found themselves in
a situation to prevent their escape. The french ships were
formed in an irregular line a-head, thus : — Semillante 3fi, Ro-
maine 40, Bellone 36, Immortalite 40, Loire 40, Hoche 74,
Coquille 36, and Embuscade 36 guns.

The british squadron consisted of the following ships : —
Canada, 74 guns, captain sir J. B. Warren, 1 wounded. Captain
William Patten, first-lieutenant Mark Oates, second-lieute-
nants Thomas Moore and Richard Bagnold.
Foudroyant, 80 guns, captain sir J. T. Bayard, 9 wounded.
Captain George Wolfe, first-lieutenant Richard Bunce, se-
cond-lieutenants Joseph Collins and Zachaeus Miller.

q 2

228 CAPTURE OF LE HOCHE.

Robust, 74 guns, captain Edward Thornborough, 10 killed, 40
wounded. Captain Richard Williams, first-lieutenant W.
Cottle (mortally wounded), second-lieut. Charles Coleman.
Melampus, 36 guns, captain Graham Moore, 1 wounded. Lieu-
tenants Francis Hole and James Isherwood.
Magnanime, 44 guns, captain the hon. M. de Courcy, 7 wound-
ed. Lieutenant W. H. Snowe, second-lieutenant Thomas
Patterson.
Ethalion, 38 guns, captain G. Countess, 1 killed, 4 wounded.
Anson, 44 guns, captain P. C. Durham, 2 killed, 13 wounded.
First-lieutenants Thomas Deering and A. Bell (wounded).
Amelia, 38 guns, captain the hon. C. Herbert. First-lieutenant
James Coles.
At 7 a.m. on the 12th, the Robust, followed by the Magna-
nime, edged away, and at 7h. 20m. they became closely engaged
with the Embuscade and Coquille, and then passed on to the
Hoche. The Foudroyant coming up, and discharging a few
broadsides at the Loire, Immortalite, and Bellone, who had
been keeping up a galling fire upon the Magnanime as she
ranged a-head, and to leeward of the Robust; the three french
frigates ceased their annoyance, and made sail to the south-west.
The Hoche, after sustaining the attack of the principal part of
the british squadron, but more particularly of the Robust and
Foudroyant, struck her colours at 10 h. 50 m. a. m. ; and out of
1237 men and boys, the Hoche lost 270 in killed and wounded.
The Bellone, after receiving the fire of several ships, defended
herself against the Ethalion for nearly two hours ; nor did she
surrender until her rigging and sails were cut to pieces, and her
loss, out of 519 men, amounted to 20 killed and 45 wounded.
The Embuscade, out of 486, lost 15 killed and 26 wounded ; and
the Coquille, having 18 killed and 31 wounded out of 507, also
surrendered to the british squadron. The remaining five frigates,
as they stood away to the westward, successively engaged the
Anson, who had 2 men killed and 11 wounded, and her masts
and rigging much cut up.

ANSON AND LOIRE. 229

On the 14th the Resolue, at 1 a. m., was fallen in with by the
Melampus, and after a feeble resistance was captured. On the
]7th the Loire was engaged by the 32-gun frigate Mermaid,
captain Jan.es N. Newman, and Kangaroo 18-gun brig, captain
Edward Brace. After a spirited action, in which the Mermaid
had her mizen-mast and main top-mast shot away, and was
otherwise much damaged, with loss of 3 killed and 13 wounded;
and having also disabled the brig, the Loire put before the
wind and was soon out of sight, although her mast, sails, and
rigging gave evidence of the effect produced by the animated
fire of her opponent. Lieutenant Mortimer Timson of the ma-
rines was serving on board the Mermaid.

The Loire had only escaped from one antagonist to fall into
the hands of another, for at daylight on the 18th, having lost
her main and fore top-mast, she was discovered by the 44-gun
frigate Anson, captain P. C. Durham; who had lost her mizen-
mast, main-yard, and main cross-trees in her previous action
with the french ship and her four companions. The Anson com-
menced the action at 10 h. 30 m., and the two disabled ships
continued the contest until 1 1 h. 45 m. a. m., when the Kangaroo
bore up and fired her broadside. Shortly afterwards the Loire's
mizen-mast came down, and she surrendered. The Anson had
2 men killed ; first-lieutenant Wm. A. Bell of the marines,
and 12 wounded. The Loire, out of a complement of 624 men,
had 46 killed and 71 wounded. Captain Durham speaks highly
of first-lieutenant Deering of the marines.

We have now disposed of five frigates of M. Bompart's squa-
dron; a sixth, the Immortalite, when on her cruise to Brest on
the 28th of October, was pursued bythe38-gun frigate Fisgard,
captain T. B. Martin, and brought to action at 11 h. 30 m. a. m.
So effectual was the fire of the french frigate, that in less than
half an hour the Fisgard was rendered ungovernable, having her
sails and rigging cut to pieces ; but by active exertion she was
again alongside of the enemy at half-past one o'clock. The
firing was renewed with great fury, and continued until 3 p. m.j
when the Immortalite, with her mizen-mast over her side, and

230 CAFTUttE OF LA SEINE.

having six feet water in the hold, her gallant captain with 54
killed and 61 wounded out of a complement of 580, was com-
pelled to haul down her colours. The Fisgard, out of 281 men
and boys, lost 10 killed; lieutenant Mark Anthony Gerrard of
the marines, and 23 wounded. The two remaining frigates, the
Semillante and Romaine, reached the ports of l'Orient and Brest.

On the 29th of June the Jason and Pique frigates, captains
Charles Sterling and David Milne, when off the Penmarcks>
at 7 p. m. chased the french 40-gun frigate Seine, which had
sailed from the Isle of France, and was making for the first
french port. The pursuit continued throughout the day, and at
9 p. m. the Pique commenced firing her bow guns. At 11 p.m.
she ranged up alongside, and a running fight continued for two
hours and thirty minutes, when the british frigate had her main
top-mast shot away, and consequently dropped astern. The
Jason now coming up, took the ground ; and the Pique, when
on the larboard side of her consort, also stuck fast. Almost at
the same instant the land near Pointe de la Trenche was seen
a-head, and the french frigate was also aground, and totally dis-
masted. As the tide rose, the Jason swung with her stern to-
wards the enemy's broadside, which cut up her rigging and
sails, and she sustained the loss of her second-lieutenant and 6
men killed ; her captain and 1 1 wounded. The Jason was soon
able to bring her guns to bear ; and on the approach of the Mer-
maid frigate, the Seine struck her colours, having sustained a
loss of 170 killed and 100 wounded, out of a complement of 610
men. Every effort to get the Pique afloat proving unavailing,
she was abandoned by her crew, whose loss amounted to 2
killed and 6 wounded. First-lieutenant R. A. Symes was serv-
ing on board the Jason.

The 32-gun frigate Ambuscade, captain Henry Jenkins,
mounting 32 long twelve-pounders, and 8 carronade twelve-
pounders — total 40 guns, with a reduced crew of 190 men and
boys, was cruising off Bordeaux on the 14th of June at 7 a. m.,
when a sail was discovered running down before the wind. At
9 a.m., when the stranger had arrived nearly within gun-shot, she

AMBUSCADE AND BAIONNAISE. 231

hauled to the wind and made sail to get away; but the Am-
buscade immediately went in pursuit, and at 11 h. 30 m. she
was sufficiently near to exchange shots with the french cor-
vette Bai'onnaise, mounting 24 long eight-pounders, 6 long sixes,
and 2 brass thirty-six pounders — total 32 guns, having a crew
of 250 men and boys. The french ship, after shortening sail,
commenced the action, which had continued an hour, when an
unfortunate accident happened on board the Ambuscade : one
of her main-deck guns burst, which did great damage, and
wounded 11 men. The corvette, on seeing the confusion on
board the british ship, made sail; but the Ambuscade was pre-
sently alongside to leeward. At this time, the Baionnaise being
much cut up in her sails and rigging, and having sustained a
considerable loss in officers and men, with no chance of escape,
laid the Ambuscade on board, carrying away with her bowsprit
the british ship's starboard quarter-deck barricade, mizen-
shrouds, and mizen-mast, which in its fall unshipped the wheel.
The Baionnaise then dropped under the Ambuscade's stern, but
still remaining foul, by a grappling iron caught in the latter's
rudder chain, the french troops from their bowsprit scoured the
decks of the Ambuscade, whilst the british marines kept up a
smart fire in return ; but in a short time lieutenant Dawson, cap-
tain Jenkins and lieutenant Sinclair of the marines, were severely
wounded; and they were scarcely taken below when Mr. Brown,
the master, was killed. The only surviving lieutenant, Joseph
Briggs, who had come from a sick cot to take part in the action,
was wounded in the head, and the command of the ship now
devolved on Mr. Win. B. Murray, the purser. At this moment
an explosion of some cartridges on the rudder-head, occasioned
by firing a gun from the cabin windows into the bow of the
Bai'onnaise, produced a panic, which enabled the french crew
from the bowsprit to reach the british quarter-deck, and after a
short struggle the Ambuscade surrendered, with the loss of 10
killed and 36 wounded. The Baionnaise had 30 killed; her
commander, captain Richer, and 30 men badly wounded.

232

CHAPTER VI.

From the year 1799 to 1801.

Notwithstanding the losses which France had sustained dur-
ing the past year, there were great preparations in the french
arsenals for the equipment and increase of her navy ; and mea-
sures were taken for the immediate construction of sixteen ships
of the line, and eighteen heavy frigates.

The naval force of Great Britain continued on the same
establishment as the preceding year; and the parliamentary vote
was for 120,000 seamen, including 20,00d marines.

On the 9th of February the 32-gun frigate Daedalus, captain
Henry L. Ball, on the East India station, fell in with the french
36-gun frigate Prudente, (but mounting only 30 guns). At 10
minutes past noon the Daedalus bore up across the stern of the
french frigate within pistol-shot, and after raking her, luffed up
to leeward ; and thus, close alongside, the two ships engaged
with great spirit. In about a quarter of an hour the mizen-mast
of the Prudente fell over her quarter ; she nevertheless continued
the action until 1 h. 21 m. p.m., when being much cut up in
masts and sails, the french frigate hailed to say they had sur-
rendered. Out of a crew of 301 men and boys, she lost 27
killed and 22 wounded. The Daedalus suffered but little, and
had only 2 killed and 12 wounded, out of a crew of 212. Lieu-
tenant Edward Jolliffe of the marines was serving on board the
Daedalus.

On the 9th of June the 32-gun frigate Success, captain Peard,
chased a Spanish polacre into the harbour of La Seloa, near
Cape Creux. Three boats were detached under the command of
lieutenant Facey, assisted by lieutenant Stupart and lieutenant

DESTRUCTION OF PRENEUSE. 233

John Davison of the marines, to bring out the polacre, which
proved to be the Bella Aurora, mounting 10 carriage guns, with
a crew of 110 men, surrounded by a boarding netting, and sup-
ported by a battery and a body of men at small arms on the
shore. Notwithstanding this formidable preparation, she was
gallantly boarded and brought out ; but this bold enterprise was
attended with a serious loss to the British, who had 4 seamen
killed, and lieutenant Stupart with 8 men badly wounded.
For his services on this occasion lieutenant Facey was promoted
to the rank of commander.

On the 11th of December the french 40-gun frigate Preneuse
was pursued by the Tremendous 74, and 50-gun ship Adamant,
who were cruising off Port Louis, Isle of France ; and finding it
impossible to escape from the Adamant, she ran ashore on the
west side of the river Tombeau, near to some batteries, and
about three miles from Port Louis. The frigate cut away all
her masts, and at 3 h. 30 m. p.m., in conjunction with the batte-
ries, fired upon the Adamant, who was working up towards her.
At 5h. 30 m. the Adamant commenced engaging, and after 15
minutes the Preneuse signified she had surrendered. At 7 p. m.
three boats were sent to destroy the french frigate, under the
orders of lieutenant Edward Grey, accompanied by lieutenants
Walker and Symes, and by lieutenant John Owen of the ma-
rines. At 8 p. m. the french batteries opened their fire of shot
and shell at the boats, and at the Adamant as she was working
up towards the object of attack. About 9 p. m., just as the
boats were getting alongside of the Preneuse, two launches
filled with men pulled from her to the shore, whilst lieutenant
Grey and his party, under a heavy fire from the batteries, gal-
lantly boarded the frigate ; and having removed captain L'Her-
mite, with 14 officers and the few men that remained on board,
she was set on fire and destroyed, and the boats returned with-
out sustaining any loss.

The appearance of a british squadron on the coast of Egypt
in the latter part of October, assisted by some russian and turk-

234 BUONAPARTE AT CAIRO.

ish frigates, induced Buonaparte to strengthen Damietta, Ro-
setta, and particularly Alexandria ; and having appointed general
Marmont governor of the latter city, the general-in-chief busied
himself in forming schemes that had for their object the junc-
tion of the Red and Mediterranean seas, by means of a canal
through the isthmus of Suez : and in order to ascertain the
practicability of such a plan, Buonaparte resolved to proceed
thither himself, first sending a detachment of troops to take
possession of the town and neighbourhood.

On the 2nd of November, general Bon set out on that expe-
dition ; and on the 8th the advanced division, under Eugene
Beauharnois, entered the seaport of Suez, which is a small
town situated at the northern extremity of the western arm of
the Red Sea, distant about 30 leagues from Cairo, and nearly
the same from the Mediterranean. Buonaparte was prevented
following general Bon by the plague breaking out among his
troops, and by the information he had just acquired of the hos-
tile intentions of Turkey.

Buonaparte quitted Cairo on the 25th of December, and on
the 27th arrived at Suez, attended by the members of the " In-
stitute of Egypt." Immediately proceeding to reconnoitre the
town, harbour, and the neighbouring coast, he afterwards crossed
the Red Sea by means of a ford, only practicable at low water,
in order to reach a spot which the Arabs still call the " Foun-
tain of Moses," and where, according to the traditions of the
country, lie the rocks which, on being touched, produced water
to the followers of the prophet. In their way back to Suez,
the general and his escort nearly suffered the fate of Pharoah
and his army : the ford, which had been crossed with such ease
in the morning, being now covered by the rapid rise of the tide,
the travellers were compelled to descend to the bottom of the
gulph ; and here, owing to some mistake about the depth of the
water, Buonaparte was under the necessity of being carried on
the shoulders of his guide, and it was not without difficulty that
they succeeded in effecting" their escape.

ARRIVES AT EL-ARISH. 235

After various surveys of the locality of Suez, Buonaparte was
unexpectedly called back to Cairo ; for the officer, who a
month previous to his departure for Suez had been sent to
Achmet Djezzar, had returned without obtaining an audience.
Indignant at this treatment, the general sent the following let-
ter to Djezzar : — " I do not desire to make war if you are not
my enemy, but you must explain yourself. Your continuing to
afford refuge to Ibrahim Bey, and allowing him to remain on
the frontiers of Egypt, will be considered by me as an act of
hostility, and I shall in that case march to Acre. If you arc
disposed to live in peace with me, you will remove Ibrahim forty
leagues from the frontiers of Egypt, and let there be a free com-
merce between Damietta and Syria. On those terms I shall
respect your sovereignty, and allow a free commerce by land
between Egypt and Syria."

This letter met with no better fate than the message sent by
colonel Beauvoisins ; consequently Buonaparte determined on
immediate preparations for fulfilling his promise to Djezzar;
believing that by such proceeding he would gain favour with
the grand Signior, to whom the pacha of Acre had long been a
rebellious subject. The arrival of a body of troops in the castle
of El-Arish, situated just within the frontiers of Egypt, quick-
ened the movements of Buonaparte, who marched from the
neighbourhood of Cairo in the early part of January 1799, with
an army of 13,000 men, accompanied by 37 field-pieces, and 11
howitzers, to effect the conquest of Syria ; and generals Regnier,
Kleber, Bon, Lannes, and Murat had commands under Buona-
parte in this expedition. The remainder of the army, about
17,000 men, was scattered over the different provinces of Lower
Egypt; and by the 18th of February the whole of the army
destined to invade Syria had assembled before El-Arish.

Commodore sir Sidney Smith, who jointly with his brother,
Mr. Spencer Smith, had been invested with the rank of mi-
nister-plenipotentiary to the Sublime Porte, and had recently
been at Constantinople arranging a plan of active co-operation

236 SIR SIDNEY SMITH AT ACRE.

with the Turks in Egypt, arrived off Alexandria on the 3rd of
March in the 74-gun ship Tigre, and superseded captain Trou-
bridge; who on the 7th sailed in the Culloden, leaving the The-
seus 74, and Alliance frigate (en flute) on the station. On the
same evening an express arrived from Djezzar with an account
of the invasion of Syria by Buonaparte, and of his having
that very day carried Jaffa by storm. In consequence of this
intelligence, the commodore on the following day despatched
the Theseus to Acre, with colonel Phelipeaux, a french royalist
officer of engineers : the Tigre meanwhile remained off Alexan-
dria, to observe the enemy's movements. The removal of most
of the vessels in the old port to the eastern or new harbour, gave
intimation that some naval expedition was in preparation ; and
this supposition being confirmed by a neutral vessel which had
sailed from Alexandria on the 9th, it determined the commodore
to detach the Marianne gun-vessel on the following day to re-
connoitre the coast to the eastward, and to join him in the
road of Cai'ffa; a port about eight miles south-east of Acre,
whither the Tigre immediately proceeded. Having been joined
by the Marianne on the 15th off Caiffa, the Tigre anchored in
the bay of Acre, where the Theseus had arrived two days before.
On the 16th sir Sidney landed, and commenced putting the
town of Acre, with its rotten and ruined walls, in the best pos-
sible state to resist the attacks of an European army : and thus
encouraged, the pacha and the garrison determined to make a
vigorous defence.

The Theseus was detached on the 17th to reconnoitre the
coast to the southward, while sir Sydney proceeded with the boats
of the Tigre to the anchorage of Cai'ffa, near the promontory of
Mount Carmel, in order to intercept the maritime portion of the
french expedition ; but as the their advance-guard, mounted
on asses and dromedaries, were discovered by the sea side, sir
Sydney returned to the Tigre, and sent the launch with a 32-
pounder carronade, under lieutenant John Bushby, to the mouth
of the river Kerdanneh, to defend the fort.

UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK AT CA1FFA. 237

On the 18th, at day-break, the launch opened a fire on the
french troops, which compelled them to retire precipitately to
the skirts of Mount Carmel. The main body, finding the route
near the sea thus exposed, approached by the Nazareth road,
but not without being harassed by the Samaritan Arabs ; and
being driven by the fire from the british ships, directed at the
trenches, from making an attack along the coast to the north-
ward, the French invested the town of Acre to the north-east,
where the defences were much stronger.

On the 18th a french flotilla, consisting of a corvette and nine
sailing gun-vessels, were seen from the Tigre, who after a chase
of three hours captured seven gun-vessels, mounting together
34 guns, laden with battering cannon and every kind of siege
equipage, which they had brought from Damietta. The french
guns intended for the attack of Acre were now landed for its
defence, and the captured gun-boats were manned and sent to
co-operate in harassing the enemy and cutting off his supplies.
For five successive days and nights the gun-vessels were occu-
pied in annoying the French, and rendering assistance to the
Turks. On the 21st an unsuccessful attempt was made to cut
out of the port of Caiffa four djerms, or lighters, which had put
in there on the 18th from Alexandria, having on board supplies
for the french army; and at 10 a. m. the boats of the two line of
battle ships, covered by some of the gun-vessels, proceeded to
the attack. In this gallant though unfortunate attempt, 4 mid-
shipmen and 8 seamen were killed ; 1 midshipman and 26 sea-
men wounded, 8 of whom, with twelve others, were taken pri-
soners. Among the officers who distinguished themselves on
this occasion, we find the name of lieutenant Charles Frederick
Burton of the marines.

On the 20th of March, the French before Acre opened their
trenches against the front or saliant angle, on the east side of
the town, and a constant cannonade was kept upon that point
until the 1st of April; when the breach which the enemy had
made in the tower appearing to them practicable, and conceiving

238 SORTIE FROM ACRE.

that the counterscarp had suffered from a mine they had sprung,
the french troops resolutely advanced to the assault. On both
these points they were deceived ; whilst the Turks, stimulated
by the heroic example of the british seamen and marines, con-
tinued to pour down a shower of stones and grenades upon the
assailants, and drove them back with considerable loss.

The violence of the weather, and the unsheltered state of the
anchorage, compelled the Theseus and Tigre to put to sea; and
on their return, which was on the 6th of April, it was discovered
that the French had pushed their approaches to the counter-
scarp, and even to the ditch of the north-east angle of the town,
and were mining the tower, so as to increase the breach which
they had made by the fire of their field-pieces.

Although the fire from the guns captured from the enemy,
and which had been admirably mounted under the direction of
colonel Phelipeaux and captain Wilmot of the Alliance, ap-
peared to slacken the efforts of the enemy, yet much danger
was apprehended from the mine. A sortie was therefore deter-
mined upon, and the seamen and marines of the squadron were
to force their way into the mine, while the turkish troops at-
tacked the enemy's trenches on the right and left.

Just before day-break on the 7th of April, the columns
moved forward to the attack, but the impetuosity and noise of
the Tuiks rendered abortive the attempt to surprise the be-
siegers ; yet, in other respects, the Mahometans performed
their part to admiration. Lieutenant J. W. Wright received
two balls in his right arm, whilst leading the seamen pioneers;
he nevertheless proceeded to the bottom of the mine, and pull-
ing down the supporters, destroyed as much as could be effected
in its present state. Major Douglas and the marines were
highly distinguished in this enterprise; and they ably supported
the seamen in the desperate service, bringing off the wounded
under a tremendous fire from the enemy.

The loss sustained by the British was 1 major of marines,
Thomas Oldfield, and 2 privates killed ; lieutenant John W.

DEATH OF MAJOR OLDFIELD. 239

Wright of the navy, lieutenant George Beatty of the marines,
2 midshipmen, 1 serjeant, 6 privates of marines, and 12 seamen
wounded. The return of the detachment to the garrison was
ably covered by the fire of the Theseus, in the excellent posi-
tion she had taken for that purpose : the Turks, as proofs of
their prowess, brought in 60 frenchmen's heads, and a number
of muskets and intrenching tools.

General Berthier, who commanded a division of the enemy,
affords the best testimony of the merits of the marines upon
this occasion; and we therefore, without comment, give an ex-
tract from a letter of that gallant officer, dated from the french
camp :-— " On the 18th Germinal (7th of April), the enemy at
break of day attacked our left and centre ; each column was
headed by british marines belonging to the ships, and their
colours were seen waving with those of the Djezzar, and the
batteries were all manned by Englishmen. The enemy at-
tempted to surprise our advanced posts, but their design was
seen through : we received them with a brisk fire from our
parallels, and all that appeared were either killed or wounded.
The enemy ultimately retired without gaining an inch towards
destroying our works. The central column acted with more
obstinacy, and their object was to penetrate to the entrance of
our mine; they were commanded by major Thomas Oldfield,
who advanced boldly towards the entrance of the mine at the
head of some of his intrepid countrymen. They attacked like
heroes, and were received by heroes, — death only checked their
bold career: the remainder retreated, and took refuge in the
fortress. The approaches of our parallels remained covered
with the dead bodies of English and of Turks. The body of
major Oldfield was carried off by our grenadiers, who brought
him to head-quarters ; but he had expired before their arrival.
His sword, to which he had done so much honour, was also
honoured after his fall : it remains in the hands of one of our
grenadiers. He was buried amongst us, and has carried with
him the esteem of the whole french army." This eulogium from

240 TRIBUTE TO MAJOR OLDFIELD.

an enemy, and a soldier whose proud renown is associated with
that of Napoleon, is the noblest epitaph that the brave could
aspire to.

Sir Sidney Smith, at a meeting of the anniversary of the
Naval Asylum, held on the 2nd of June, 1802, offered a tribute
to the memory of this gallant soldier. After speaking of the
many virtues of captain Miller, sir Sidney thus enlarges upon
the merits of his departed friend, major Oldfield : — "The next
is major Oldfield of the marines. I will tell the company where
the body of this brave man was contended for, and they will
judge where, and how, he died. It was in a sortie of the garri-
son of St. Jean d'Acre, when attacked by general Buonaparte,
that major Oldfield, who commanded a column, was missing.
On our troops advancing, he was found — his body was found
at the mouth of one of the enemy's mines, and at the foot of
their works: our brave men hooked him by the neck- cloth as
he lay dead, to draw him off; the enemy at the same time
pierced him with a halbert, and each party struggled for his
body. The neck-cloth gave way, and the enemy succeeded in
dragging to their works this brave man; and here I must do
them the justice which such gallant foes are justly entitled to:
they buried him with all the honours of war ! "

When Buonaparte commenced the siege of Acre, he had no
other artillery than field-pieces ; but the squadron of admiral
Perree, which sailed from Alexandria, consisting of three fri-
gates and two corvettes, having on board a quantity of bat-
tering cannon and other munitions of war, reached Jaffa in
safety ; and in addition to these, by Buonaparte's desire, he
landed 4 eigh teen-pounders from the Junon.

The garrison of Acre continued to make occasional sorties,
under the protection of field-pieces in the ships' boats, until
the evening of the 1st of May; when the French, after seve-
ral hours' cannonade from 23 pieces of artillery, including 9
battering twenty-four and eighteen-pounders brought by ad-
miral Perree's squadron, and which reached the besieging

DEATH OF CAPTAIN W1LMOT. 241

army on the 27th of April overland from Jaffa, made a fourth
desperate attempt to mount the breach, which was now
much extended. The Tigre and Theseus were stationed on
either side of the town, so as to flank the walls; whilst the
gun-boats were moored in the best manner for opening on the
enemy's trenches.

Opposed by this destructive fire, the french troops, notwith-
standing their determined bravery, were repulsed with a heavy
loss. On the part of the British, captain David Wilmot of
the Alliance was killed by a musket-shot, as he was mounting
a howitzer on the breach ; a midshipman and 4 seamen were
also slain, and lieutenant William Knight with 8 men wound-
ed : in addition to this loss they had to regret the death of
Colonel Phelipeaux, from excessive fatigue and anxiety. The
French continued to batter in breach with progressive effect,
although they had been repulsed with great slaughter in their
several attempts to storm : nor were they more successful in
their attacks on the two ravelins that had been erected by sir
Sidney to flank the nearest approaches of the besiegers, which
were only a few yards distant. The frequent sorties from the
garrison impeded the enemy in their covering works, and these
were only suspended during the intervals which were caused
by the excessive fatigue on both sides.

On the 7th of May, and the fifty-first day of the siege, the
long-expected reinforcement from Rhodes made its appearance
in the offing, consisting of some turkish corvettes, and above
twenty transports with troops on board. The approach of this
reinforcement induced Buonaparte to order a vigorous attack, in
the hope of getting possession of the town before the troops
could disembark : the fire from the french batteries suddenly
increased considerably, whilst the flanking fire from the British
afloat was less effectual, owing t© the epaulments and traverses
of great thickness, which the enemy had thrown up to protect
themselves. The attacking columns of the enemy suffered se-
verely from the fire of a brass eighteen-pounder, under the

VOL. I. R

242 SIR SYDNEY AT THE BREACH.

direction of Mr. Schroder, master's mate, and a twenty-four
pounder in the north ravelin under Mr. Jones, midshipman ;
these being within grape range, added to the turkish musketry,
did great execution. Two djerms lying in the mole, mounting
2 sixty-eight pounders, worked under the able direction of Mr.
James Bray, carpenter of the Tigre, threw shells into the centre
of the attacking column with evident effect, and checked its
advance ; nevertheless, the besiegers gained ground, and ef-
fected a lodgement in the second story of the north-east tower,
the upper part of which was entirely battered down, and its
ruins formed the ascent from the ditch by which they mount-
ed. As the day appeared on the 8th, the french standard was
seen flying on the outer angle of the tower; and the enemy,
having covered themselves by this lodgement, and the approach
to it by traverses across the ditch, the fire from the besieged
became of less effect, and even the flanking fire from the gun-
boats did but little execution. Those traverses were construct-
ed by the French under the fire from the fortress during the
preceding night, and were composed of sand-bags with the
bodies of the dead built in with them, and were so high that
their bayonets only were visible above them. At this crisis
the troops of Hassan Bey were in the boats, and half way to
the shore : an effort was therefore necessary, to preserve the
place until this reinforcement could take their stations on the
walls. Sir Sidney now landed with the ships' boats at the
mole, and led the seamen, armed with pikes, to the breach,
where they found a few Turks hurling stones on the heads of
the assailants, who falling down the slope, impeded the pro-
gress of the rest. Fresh parties of the French ascended to the
assault, the heap of ruins between the two contending forces
serving as abreast-work for both; and here the muzzles of their
muskets touched, and the spear-heads of the standards locked.
Djezzar Pacha was sitting in his palace, rewarding those who
brought him the heads of his enemies, and distributing musket
cartridges with his own hands; but hearing that sir Sidney and

SORTIE OF THE TURKS. 243

his brave companions were on the breach, the old man hastened
thither and pulled them down with violence, saying, that if any
harm happened to his english friends, all would be lost. This
amicable contest occasioned a rush of Turks to the spot, which
fortunate occurrence gained time for the arrival of the first
division of Hassan Bey's troops.

Sir Sidney, having overcome the pacha's repugnance to the
admission of any troops but his Albanians into the gardens of
the seraglio, and as this spot was now an important post, as oc-
cupying the terre-pleine of the rampart, the commodore intro-
duced 1000 men of the Chifflic regiment, armed with bayonets
and disciplined after the European method. The garrison, ani-
mated by the appearance of such a reinforcement, were soon in
sufficient numbers to defend the breach. Sir Sidney then pro-
posed to the pacha to allow the Chifflic regiment to make a
sally, and take the assailants in flank : the Turks rushed out
with much bravery, but not being calculated for such a move-
ment, they were driven back with great loss, whilst the town
gate was efficaciously protected by the sixty-eight pounders of
the Tigre.

The sortie had the effect of obliging the besiegers to show
themselves above their parapets, and consequently exposed to
the flanking fire of the British, which brought down numbers ;
while those remaining were killed, or dispersed by the grenades
thrown among them.

After this repulse, the enemy commenced a new breach, by
an incessant fire directed to the southward of the lodgement :
every shot knocking down whole sheets of the wall, which was
much less solid than that of the tower, and on which they had
expended so much time and ammunition. At this moment,
the group of french generals, which the shells from the sixty-
eight pounders had frequently dispersed, was assembled on
Richard Cosur-de-Lion's mount, and Buonaparte was distin-
guishable in the centre of them ; his gesticulations indicated a
renewal of the attack, and as an aide-de-camp was despatched

244 FRENCH DEFEATED.

to the camp, it showed he only waited a reinforcement. Sir
Sidney immediately directed the ships of Hassan Bey to take
their stations in the shoal wrater to the southward, and made
the Tigre signal to get under weigh, and join the Theseus to
the northward. A little before sunset a dense column appeared
advancing slowly to the breach, which they mounted unmo-
lested, and then descended from the ramparts into the pacha's
garden. Here, in a few minutes, the most advanced of the
Frenchmen lay headless trunks, — the sabre, with the dagger
in the other hand, proving more than a match for the bayonet.
The rest of the assailants precipitately retreated, and their
leader, general Lannes, who was seen daringly encouraging his
men to mount the breach, was carried off wounded by a mus-
ket-ball, while general Rambeaud was among the killed.

In the dusk of the evening the british uniform was mistaken
for the french by the newly arrived Turks, and in consequence
of this confusion many a sabre blow was parried by the british
officers; and major Douglas, with Messrs. Ives and Jones,
nearly lost their lives while forcing their way through a torrent
of fuo-itives. At length the pacha's exertions restored confi-
dence ; and both parties being worn out with fatigue, an end
was put to this contest, which had lasted twenty-five hours.

In this splendid defence the British had 1 seaman killed,
7 wounded, and Mr. Lamb, midshipman, with 3 seamen,
drowned. Sir Sidney now addressed a circular to the princes
and chiefs of the Christians of Mount Lebanon, and also to
the sheiks of the Druses, exhorting them to cut off the supplies
from the french camp. Two ambassadors were immediately
sent by the Syrians, and active measures were taken to prevent
any supplies arriving overland ; while Buonaparte's career fur-
ther northward was effectually stopped by a warlike people,
inhabiting a country now become impenetrable by their deter-
mined resistance.

General Kleber's division, just arrived from the fords of the
Jordan, was intended for the next attempt to mount the breach

THE SIEGE RAISED. 245

of Acre. To frustrate that movement, another sortie was re-
solved upon ; and during the night of the 19th the turkish
Chifflic regiment, led by its lieutenant-colonel Soliman Aga,
rushed out of the gates, and gained the third parallel of the
besiegers; and their impetuosity carried them to the second
trench, where, although they lost some of their standards, four
of the enemy's cannon were spiked before they retreated. By
this movement Kleber's division, instead of mounting the breach,
had full occupation during three hours' conflict, nor did the
French recover their works without sustaining a heavy loss.

Since their last failure, the french grenadiers refused to mount
the breach over the dead bodies of their unburied countrymen ;
consequently a flag of truce was sent into the town by an Arab
dervise, with a letter to the pacha proposing a cessation of
arms for the purpose of burying the dead, the stench of which
had become intolerable, and threatened the existence of every
person on both sides. While the answer was under consider-
ation, a discharge of shot and shells announced another as-
sault ; but, fortunately, the garrison was prepared to receive
them, and the assailants only contributed to increase the num-
ber of the dead bodies under the walls. Sir Sidney rescued
the Arab from the indignation of the Turks, by conveying him
on board the Tigre, whence he was sent back to the french
general with a message that must have made the army sensible
of the well-merited reproof.

The French, having abandoned all hopes of success, raised
the siege of Acre on the 20th; and on the 21st of May they
made a precipitate retreat, leaving twenty-three pieces of can-
non (after burning their carriages) in the hands of the be-
sieged. The army reached Cantoura on the afternoon of the
21st, the ruins of Ctesarea on the 22nd, and Jaffa on the 24th :
here it rested three days, and reached Gaza on the 30th. On
the 1st of June it entered the desert, and halted on the 2nd at
El- Arish, where Buonaparte left a garrison: the main body then
continued its march, arriving at Cairo on the 14th. Berthier

246 BLOCKADE OF NAPLES.

states the loss of the french army, during the last four months,
at 700 men who died of disease, 500 killed in the different
actions, and about 1800 wounded ; it is probable, however, that
it greatly exceeded this statement.

The british seamen and marines rejoined their ships, and sir
Sidney with his little squadron quitted the bay of Acre on the
12th of June.

Lord Nelson having urged the Sicilian government to place
the island in the best possible state of defence, a large body of
troops assembled ; and preparations were made under his lord-
ship's auspices to fit out the gun-boats, and mount the bat-
teries with 65 twenty-four pounders, which had been brought
from Naples.

On the 18th of March, captain Troubridge arriving at Pa-
lermo with four ships of the line, was immediately detached by
lord Nelson to blockade the port of Naples ; and on the 2nd of
April the squadron anchored off the island of Procida, of which
they took possession, and hoisted the Sicilian colours : on the
following day Ischia, Capraia, and all the other of the Ponza
islands, followed the example of Procida. The squadron re-
joined lord Nelson on the 17th, and between that date and the
13th of June, his lordship had collected a fleet of sixteen sail
of the line under his immediate command. On the departure
of captain Troubridge, the blockade of the port of Naples de-
volved upon captain James Foote, in the 38-gun frigate Sea-
horse, having under his orders the Perseus bomb, with two
brigs. In the mean time, the immense austro-russian army
under general Suwarrow, which had entered Italy since the
middle of April, was now bearing down all opposition in the
neapolitan territory. Cardinal Ruffo defeated the French near
Naples on the 5th of June, and the fortified rock of Rivigliano
capitulated to the Seahorse on the 14th. On the 15th the im-
portant fortress of Castel-a-mare surrendered on the following
terms : "That the garrison should march out with the honours
of war; and that such of them as chose, be allowed to avail

CAPITULATION OF NEAPOLITAN FORTS. 247

themselves of the protection of the british flag." The little
squadron proceeded on the 17th to attack Castel del Uovo,
which with Castel Nuovo constituted the principal sea de-
fence of the capital. The latter is situated in the heart of the
city, and has a communication with the palace ; whilst the
Castel del Uovo runs out into the bay, and is joined to the
land by a narrow pass with a drawbridge : these two forts, and
that of St. Elmo on the western side of the city, were the only
strongholds possessed by the French in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of Naples.

Captain Foote, after sending a summons to the commandant
in Castel del Uovo, had commenced the attack of that fortress ;
when on the 19th he was requested by cardinal RufFo to cease
hostilities while the flag of truce was flying, as negotiations
had taken place on the part of the russian minister, count
Micheroux. On the 20th the captain received from the car-
dinal a plan of the capitulation, already signed by him and
the chief of the Russians, and required the signature of captain
Foote : that officer complied with the request, but at the same
time expressed his opinion that the terms were too favourable
to the republicans. On the 22nd the capitulation of the forts
of Nuovo and del Uovo was signed in form by the cardinal
RufFo, by the russian as well as turkish commanders, and by
captain Foote as commanding british officer in the bay of Na-
ples; whilst colonel Mejan, the french commandant at fort St.
Elmo, had previously approved the terms, which stipulated that
the two garrisons, consisting of about 1500 individuals, chiefly
Neapolitans and revolutionists, should march out with the ho-
nours of war; that they should have the choice of embarking
in cartels for Toulon, or of remaining at Naples; and that until
such cartels were prepared, the garrisons should keep posses-
sion of their forts ; whilst four hostages were to be detained at
fort St. Elmo, until the arrival of the individuals at Toulon had
been ascertained.

It necessarily required some days for assembling the trans-

248 NELSON ANNULS THE TREATY.

ports to convey the garrisons to their destination,, and in the
mean time the flags of truce remained hoisted as well at the two
forts, as on board the british and neapolitan ships of war in the
bay. Whilst matters were in this state, on the 24th lord Nelson,
with sixteen sail of the line and a 64-gun ship, arrived in sight,
and the Foudroyant made the signal to annul the flag of truce
then flying on board the squadron of captain Foote. On the
same afternoon a conference was held on board the flag-ship, at
which were present sir William and lady Hamilton, and cardinal
RufFo : the latter insisted that the inviolability of the treaty
ought to be held sacred ; but lord Nelson considered that as
the treaty had been entered into with rebels, it ought not to be
carried into execution without the approbation of his Sicilian
Majesty. Upon this decision of the british admiral, the cardi-
nal indignantly retired from the conference.

On the 26th the garrisons of the forts of Nuovo and del Uovo,
in obedience to the ninth article of the treaty, set at liberty the
state prisoners as well as the english prisoners of war ; and then
the garrison, as stipulated in the third article; marched out with
the honours of war, and grounded their arms. The principal
part embarked on board fourteen transports to be conveyed to
Toulon, conformably with the fifth article; but in reality to be
held as prisoners until the king of the two Sicilies, then at
Palermo, determined how they should be disposed of. Thus
the treaty was violated by the order of lord Nelson ; for had his
fleet by any fortunate chance been prevented entering the bay
until the 27th or 28th, those unhappy victims of violated faith
would have been on their way to Toulon, and british honour
preserved inviolate. On the 8th of July Ferdinand the Fourth
and his queen arrived from Palermo, but the monarch was en-
tirely under the influence of lady Hamilton and his ministers,
and through their perfidy the unhappy wretches on board the
prison-ships (cartels that had been), underwent the greatest
sufferings. " It is now," says a letter from one of these miser-
able victims of misguided policy, " twenty-four days that we

MARINES AT ST. ELMO. 249

are lying in this road, unprovided with every thing necessary to
existence : we have only bread to eat, and we drink nothing but
putrid water, or wine mixed with sea-water, and have nothing
but the bare planks to sleep upon. Our houses have been pil-
laged, and the greater part of our relations have been either
imprisoned or massacred."

An apologist for lord Nelson styles him "commander-in-
chief," and considers that in such capacity, as representative of
the king of England, he might annul treaties. Lord Nelson
was only third, or admitting that the eail St. Vincent had re-
signed, second in command ; but even the sovereign power did
not extend to the enemies of his country, without whom as
parties, a treaty could not exist. If captain Foote, in signing
the treaty, had exceeded his orders, he should have been tried
and punished ; but even then, the faith of the nation having
been once solemnly pledged, it ought not not to have been
compromised.

Since the surrender of the castles of Nuovo and del Uovo,
the french troops had evacuated the city of Naples, but a de-
tachment amounting to about 800 men, under major-general
Mejan, still remaining in the fort of St. Elmo, it was resolved
to attack this fortress with the british and portuguese marines,
who had been landed from the squadron under the command of
captain Troubridge of the Culloden.

The battalion of marines amounted to about 800 men, com-
prising the following officers : —

Lieutenant-colonel Strickland ; captain Creswell (temporary
rank of major), captains Weir, Dunsmuire, Minto, Knox, Wolfe,
Torkington, and Williams ; lieutenants Noble, Hare, McCarthy,
Pearce, Barford, Short, Witts, Harvey, Scobell, Adair, Bunce,
Jones, Walker, Hart, Collins, Jewell, Toomer, Perrott, Miller,
Bozon, Wright, Wheeler, Ross, and Wemyss and Tyldesley (ad-
jutants), and Vyvion (quarter- master.) These, with the 400
Portuguese marines, 500 Swiss, 450 Russians, and 70 Greeks,
formed a total of 2170 men, exclusive of officers.

250 THE GARRISON CAPITULATES.

The commandant of fort St. Elmo having expressed his de-
termination to defend the place entrusted to his charge to the
last extremity, captain Troubridge resolved to storm the fort
as soon as two practicable breaches could be made. On the
3rd of July a battery, mounting 3 thirty-six pounders, and 4
mortars, was opened within 700 yards of the walls, and on the
5th another battery of 4 thirty-six pounders. On the same day
the Russians opened a battery of 4 thirty-six pounders against
the angle opposite to the point attacked by the British, to which
4 more mortars were subsequently added.

On the Uth, the three-gun battery being entirely destroyed,
and the guns dismounted by the fire of the besieged, captain
Hallowell was directed to construct another battery of 6 thirty-
pounders within 180 yards of the walls. Some trees intervened
between the battery and the fort, which it was necessary to re-
move before the fire could be opened with effect; and although
this was a service of great danger, it was gallantly performed
under the cheering example of the british officers. A second
battery of 1 eighteen-pounder and 2 howitzers, was getting
ready, when an officer appeared on the walls with a flag of
truce. A capitulation being agreed upon, the garrison marched
out with the honours of war, and, in this instance, were honour-
ably conveyed to Toulon. The loss sustained by the british,
russian, and neapolitan forces, amounted to 5 officers and 32
rank and file killed ; 5 officers and 79 rank and file wounded.

The fort of Capua, a small town on the river Volturno, and
distant about fifteen miles from Naples, became the next object
of attack. On the 20th captain Troubridge, with the seamen and
marines and portuguese troops, marched from Naples, and en-
camped before Capua on the morning of the 22nd. On the
same day a bridge of pontoons was thrown across the Volturno,
to facilitate the communication between the different corps, and
batteries of guns and mortars were constructed within 500 yards
of the works. On the 25th a battery of 4 twenty-four pounders
opened upon the fort, which was replied to by a fire from 11

FORTE AND SIBYLLE. 251

guns. On the 26th fresh trenches were opened, and new bat-
teries commenced within a few yards of the glacis, when the
garrison proposed terms of capitulation, which were rejected;
but others, sent back by captain Troubridge, were acceded to
by the french commandant. On the morning of the 29th, the
french garrison, numbering 2800 officers and men, under briga-
dier-general Girardon, marched out with the honours of war,
and were conveyed to Toulon. The fort was mounted with 108
pieces of ordnance, exclusive of ten that were unserviceable.

The neighbouring fort of Gaeta surrendered on the 31st, and
the french garrison, amounting to 1498 officers and men, were
allowed to march out with their arms and personal effects, and
they were to be sent to a french port. Here again the poor un-
happy neapolitan insurgents were handed over, without any
effort to protect them, to those who would soon become their
executioners. The fort of Gaeta mounted 72 pieces of can-
non, including 58 brass twenty-four and eighteen-pounders,
with 13 heavy mortars ; and the magazines contained an im-
mense quantity of powder and other garrison stores. On the
29th and 30th of September, 200 seamen and marines landed at
Civita-Vecchia, and assisted by a detachment of neapolitan
troops, took possession of that town, as also of Corneto and
Talfa. Since the 17th of July, Leghorn had been evacuated,
and the persevering exertions of the British in a great degree
assisted in freeing Naples, Rome, and Tuscany from the domi-
nion of the French.

On the 29th of February, 1799, the 38-gun frigate Sibylle,
captain Edward Cooke, in the bay of Bengal, sustained a severe
action with the french 40-gun frigate Forte. About 1 a.m. the
Sibylle bore up and poured her broadside into the stern of her
opponent, then luffed close alongside of her to leeward, and a
furious night action was maintained within musket-shot for
more than an hour. As the Forte endeavoured to make her
escape at 2 h. 30 m., the action was renewed by the Sibylle,
which brought down the three masts of the enemy's ship, and

252 MUTINY IN BANTRY BAY.

she then surrendered, with the loss of her captain and 65 killed,
and 80 wounded. The Sibylle (who had only 9 private marines
on board) had 5 killed and 17 wounded.

On the 30th of March the boats of the 36-gun frigate Trent,
commanded by lieutenant Nathaniel Belchier, with lieutenant
M'Gee of the marines, attacked a Spanish ship and three schoon-
ers, anchored under protection of a battery of 5 guns in a bay
about seven leagues to the northward of Cape Roxo, in the
island of Porto Rico. Lieutenant M'Gee, with the marines and
some seamen under lieutenant Belchier, landed and stormed the
battery, which they carried in gallant style, after killing 5, and
wounding several of the Spaniards who defended it. The ship
and one of the schooners was brought out during the time occu-
pied by the party on shore in spiking the guns. This exploit
was effected with no greater loss than 3 men wounded.

On the 30th of May, while the 74-gun ship Impetueux, cap-
tain sir Edward Pellew, was lying in Bantry Bay in company
with several sail of the line under admiral sir Alan Gardner, the
seamen refused to assist in obeying the signal to unmoor, insist-
ing upon having a boat to convey a letter to the admiral, com-
plaining of tyranny and hard usage. Finding all endeavours to
persuade the men to return to their duty of no avail, sir Edward
ordered captain Wm. Henry Boys to get his detachment under
arms, and the marines, who had previously withstood every at-
tempt of the conspirators to seduce them from their duty, now
displayed that unwavering loyalty and prompt obedience, for
which in the most trying circumstances this valuable force has
always been distinguished. The sailors finding themselves
firmly opposed, ran below, exclaiming, " Put out the lights, and
remove the ladders," but sir Edward and the officers, following
them closely, seized the ringleaders and dragged them aft to the
quarter-deck. This decisive conduct had the desired effect, and
the ship's company returned to their duty. Sir Edward Pellew,
in his letter to rear-admiral sir Charles Cotton, bart., applying
for a court-martial on the mutineers, observes, " I cannot in

LOYALTY OF THE MARINES. 253

justice close my letter without informing you, sir, of the alert
and manly conduct of the marines, in support of the King's
service on this occasion."

On the 21st of October captain Edward Hamilton, with the
beats of the 32-gun frigate Surprise, containing 100 officers and
men, put off from the ship at 8 p.m., to attempt the capture of
the Spanish frigate Hermione (formerly british), mounting 44
guns, moored head and stern between two strong batteries situ-
ated at the entrance of the harbour of Puerto Cabello. Towards
midnight the boats beat off the Spanish guard-boat when about
three-quarters of a mile from the Hermione, who opened a fire
from her bow guns, on hearing the alarm. The boats immediately
dashed on ; and about half-past midnight captain Hamilton
with eight or ten followers got on board the Hermione, and took
possession of the forecastle without much resistance. Mr.
McCullen in the gig boarded on the larboard bow, and joined
the captain's party; but the two cutters, under the first-lieute-
nant and boatswain, were beaten back in their attempt at the
gangways. The second-lieutenant in the launch was directed
to cut the bower, and the carpenter in the jolly-boat the stern-
cable; and then both boats, after reinforcing the boarding-party
with some men, were to go a-head and tow the ship. Cap-
tain Hamilton, after leaving the gunner with 12 men on the
starboard gangway, proceeded with the surgeon's party to the
quarter-deck, which was obstinately defended for a quarter of
an hour with great loss on both sides; captain Hamilton, the
gunner, and several men being severely wounded. At this
moment, the first-lieutenant with M. la Tour du Pin, acting
lieutenant of marines, boarded with their respective divisions,
and the boats under the second-lieutenant took the ship in tow,
whilst the men ordered to go aloft, loosed the top-sails. The
quarter-deck being in possession of the British, whose force
was increased by the marines and others, no time was lost in
attacking the main-deck. Captain Hamilton and the gunner
were so severely wounded, as to be incapable of further duty ;
but M. de la Tour du Pin and the surgeon leading the men

254 CUTTING OUT OF THE HERMIONE.

down the after-ladder so quickly after the Spaniards, gave them
no time to prepare for a regular defence ; and after a severe
struggle and dreadful slaughter on the part of the Spaniards,
who were also fired at from the upper-deck, the survivors of
the frigate's crew called for quarter. In passing the batteries
the captured ship sustained a heavy fire, but fortunately with-
out any loss ; and at 2 a. m. she was out of gun-shot, and in
entire possession of the British. In effecting this desperate ser-
vice, not a man of the attacking party was killed, and only 12
wounded; whilst the Spaniards, out of a crew of 365, had 119
killed and 97 wounded.

A garrison of seamen and marines, amounting to 157 men,
having been placed at Lemmertown, in West Friesland, under
captain Boorder of the Espiegle sloop of war, were attacked on
the 11th of October at 5 a.m. by the advanced party of French
and Batavians, consisting of an officer with 30 rank and file,
who attempted to storm the north battery. The British soon
got them between two fires, and so effectually surrounded them,
that they laid down their arms with the loss of 2 killed. The
prisoners had scarcely been secured, when the main body,
amounting to 670 men, attacked the British, who after a contest
of four hours and a-half, routed the enemy in every direction,
with the loss of 5 killed and 9 wounded. The marines continu-
ing the pursuit, killed and wounded more than 40 ; and if the
allied forces had not broken down a bridge in their retreat, they
would have lost their colours and two field-pieces. Captain
Boorder, in his official letter, says, " Lieutenants Wyburn,
Howel, Higginson, and Gardner of the marines, behaved with
honour to themselves and credit to their country ; and their
men distinguished themselves in the most gallant manner."

1800.

On the 24th of January a convention was signed at the fort
of El-Arish, by two commissioners from general Kleber and
those sent by the grand Vizier, for the evacuation of Egypt by
the french army. This treaty, consisting of twenty-two articles

TREATY OF EL-ARISH. 255

which was ratified by general Kleber on the 25th, stipulated
that the french army should evacuate Egypt, embarking at
Alexandria, Rosetta, and Aboukir; and that there should be an
armistice of three months, or longer if necessary ; that all sub-
jects of the Sublime Porte prisoners among the French should
be set at liberty ; and that the vessels containing the french army
should have proper passports to go to France, and not be mo-
lested by any of the belligerents. Major Douglas, of the ma-
rines, was immediately sent to England by sir Sidney Smith
with a copy of the convention, and it was announced in the
" London Gazette" on the 25th of March, 1800. This official
notice of the treaty of El-Arish implied an approval of the mea-
sure ; but long before its appearance in the " Gazette," the con-
vention had been disowned and denounced by a party, without
whose entire concurrence it could not be carried into effect.

After making the necessary arrangements for the removal of
the army according to the terms of the treaty, general Kleber
learnt, to his surprise, that the captain of the Theseus, then
cruising off Alexandria, by the express orders of sir Sidney
Smith would not allow any vessel to depart from the shores of
Egypt ; although, it should be observed, generals Desaix, Da-
voust, and some other officers of distinction, had already sailed
for France. Shortly afterwards, general Kleber received a
letter from sir Sidney, dated at the Isle of Cyprus on the 20th
of February, informing that officer, that the commander-in-
chief in the Mediterranean had received orders which opposed
the immediate execution of the treaty of El-Arish. This was
followed by a letter from lord Keith, acquainting the general
that he had received positive commands to consent to no capi-
tulation with the french troops in Egypt and Syria, unless they
laid down their arms and surrendered as prisoners of war, aban-
doning all their ships and stores in the port and citadel of
Alexandria ; that in case of such capitulation, the troops would
not be allowed to return to France without exchange, and that
all ships having troops on board, would be detained as prizes.

256 kleber's reproof.

The instant general Kleber read this letter, he determined
on giving battle to the grand Vizier; he nevertheless calmly
observed to lieutenant Wright, the bearer of the letter, " You
shall know my answer to your admiral to-morrow." That very
night Kleber had the letter printed, and the next morning
issued it to his army with the following postscript : " Soldats !
on ne repond a. une telle insolence que par des victoires : pre-
parez-vous a. combattre !"

It is true that sir Sidney Smith did not affix his signature to
the formal convention concluded at El-Arish, but he signed,
conjointly with general Desaix and M. Poussielgue, a prelimi-
nary document containing the basis of the treaty, of which the
last article runs thus : " That the french army evacuate Egypt
with arms and baggage, whenever the necessary means for such
evacuation shall have been procured, and to withdraw to the
ports which shall be agreed upon." This agreement bears date
on board the Tigre "8 Nivose," or 29th of December; and it was
therefore very natural that sir Sidney should feel indignant at
the refusal of his superiors to ratify a treaty which he had full
power to sanction. This extraordinary proceeding, which had
not the sanction of the british government, evidently emanated
from lord Keith, and was contrary to the intention of the eng-
lish cabinet; for in a letter from his lordship addressed to M.
Poussielgue, he states, " I had received no orders on this head
from the King's ministers, although I was of opinion that his
Majesty should not take part in this convention ; but since the
treaty has been concluded, his Majesty, being desirous of
showing his respect for his allies, I have received instructions
to allow a free passage for the french troops."

The rupture of the treaty of El-Arish stimulated the injured
party to wreak the most signal vengeance, upon the Turks, who
were undeserving of such animosity, as they took no part in this
breach of faith ; but unluckily for them, they happened to be in
immediate contact with the enraged french army, for the grand
Vizier with his numerous force had taken possession of the dif-

BATTLE OF HELIOPOLIS. 257

ferent strong-holds the instant the French had quitted them on
their way to the coast to embark, under the terms of the treaty.

On the 20th of March a battle was fought at the village of
Matarieh (built upon the ruins of the ancient Heliopolis), be-
tween the french army under general Kleber, stated at 10,000
men, and the turkish army under the grand Vizier Jussuf, com-
puted at 60,000, or some say 80,000 men. After five days'
fighting, during which the Turks were driven from village to
village, the French gained a complete victory ; and the grand
Vizier fled with only 500 followers, leaving his camp, artillery,
and baggage on the field of battle. The loss of the Turks is
stated to have amounted to 50,000, whilst the French suffered
comparatively but little.

After suppressing the revolt at Cairo, and the expulsion of a
small british force under lieutenant-colonel Murray, which had
disembarked from the 50-gun ship Centurion, and some smaller
vessels at Suez, the French found themselves in possession of
the posts they had formerly occupied in Egypt. In the month
of June, general Kleber received an intimation of the desire of
the british government to renew the convention ; but being now
firmly established, and having no confidence in the promises of
those who had once deceived him, the french general declined
any negotiation, and instantly began to strengthen the principal
defences along the coast, and to make preparations for repelling
any attack which the British might probably undertake.

Unfortunately for the french-egyptian army, general Kleber
was assassinated on the 14th of June: whilst walking on the
terrace of his palace at Cairo, accompanied by the architect
M. Protain, a stranger rushed out of an adjoining gallery, and
stabbed the general with a poniard ; and M. Protain, in endea-
vouring to hold the assassin, was wounded in six places, but not
mortally. General Kleber was buried with military honours in
a suburb of Cairo, and it will be only justice to the memory
of this brave man to say, that among his enemies, no less than
among his friends, he bore the character of a brave officer and
vol. r. s

258 BLOCKADE OF MALTA.

an honourable man. The command of the army devolved on
general Abdallah Jacques Menou, of whom we shall have occa-
sion to speak in our account of the next year, in bringing to a
close the French campaign in Egypt.

The garrison of Malta, under general Vaubois, consisting of
3000 sailors and seamen, had been shut up in the fortress of
Valetta since the close of the year 1798, menaced on the land
side by a powerful force of Maltese, Neapolitans, and British,
and blockaded by a squadron of british and portuguese ships.
In the early part of 1799 the french garrison received some
supplies by a frigate from Toulon, which had eluded the vigil-
ance of the blockading squadron ; but in the latter part of the
year the troops began to experience the miseries of famine and
disease. To alleviate the sufferings of the garrison, a portion of
the inhabitants was from time to time ordered out of the city,
and the original number of 45,000 was by this expedient re-
duced to barely 9000.

On the 1st of November, 1799, lord Nelson, then with his flag
on board the 80-gun ship Vanguard, sent in a summons of sur-
render; to which General Vaubois replied, " Jaloux de meriter
l'estime de votre nation, comme vous recherchez celle de la
notre, nous sommes resolus de defendre cette forteresse jusqu'a.
l'extremite."

The blockade of the island was so rigidly maintained since
the arrival of the frigate in the early part of the last year with
the supplies, that the french were kept in ignorance of the revo-
lution on the 9th of November, until the arrival of an aviso with
despatches from the new government. The garrison of Valetta
were so elated with the news of the advancement of Buonaparte
to be chief consul, that they rashly swore never to deliver up
the island to the enemies of France.

On the 15th of February lord Keith, when cruising off Malta
with the Queen Charlotte 100 guns, Foudroyant 80, Audacious,
Northumberland, and Alexander, of 74 guns, and Lion 64, re-
ceived intelligence from captain Peard, of the 32-gun frigate

CAPTURE OF GENEREUX. 259

Success, that a french squadron, consisting of the Genereux 74,
bearing the flag of admiral Perree, with a frigate, two corvettes,
and several transports having on board 3000 troops, had sailed
from Toulon on the 7th, and would attempt throwing supplies
into Valetta. In order to intercept this reinforcement the Queen
Charlotte kept close to the entrance of the harbour, whilst the
Foudroyant, Audacious, and Northumberland were stationed to
windward in the south-east, the Lion off the passage between
Goza and Malta, and the Alexander on the south-east side of
the island. On the 18th, at daylight, the Alexander chased the
squadron of admiral Perree, and captured a store-ship. The
Genereux, to avoid the fire of the Alexander, bore up, and the
Success being to leeward, raked her with several broadsides ; but
the frigate soon after became exposed to the fire of the Gene-
reux, by which she had 1 man killed and 8 wounded. At
4 h. 30 m. p.m. the Foudroyant, bearing the flag of rear-admiral
Nelson, followed closely by the Northumberland, having fired
two shots at the Genereux, the latter discharged her broadside
and struck her colours. The only loss she sustained was rear-
admiral Perree, who after being wounded by a splinter, lost his
right leg, which occasioned the death of this gallant and
upright man.

Some idea may be formed of the sufferings experienced by
the french troops in Valetta, by the exorbitant prices of the fol-
lowing articles : a fowl sixteen francs, a rabbit twelve, an egg
twenty sous, a rat forty sous, and fish six francs per pound : in
addition to these privations the typhus fever was making de-
structive ravages among the troops, and the only bouille served
to the sick in the hospitals was made of horse-flesh. In this
emergency, general Vaubois determined to despatch the Guil-
laume Tell to announce to the first consul that the place could
not hold out another month.

Shortly after the capture of the Genereux, the Queen Char-
lotte proceeded to Leghorn, and we shall presently relate the
distressing event which sealed her fate. In the early part of

s 2

200 ESCAPE OF GUILLAUME TELL.

March, lord Nelson returned to Eugland, leaving the blockad-
ing squadron in charge of captain Troubridge ; and during that
officer's temporary absence, the squadron cruising off Malta on
the 30th of March consisted of the Lion 64, captain Manley
Dixon; Foudroyant 80, captain sir Edward Berry; Alexander
74, lieutenant William Harrington (acting), and the 36-gun fri-
gate Penelope, captain Henry Blackwood.

On the 30th of March, at 11 p.m., the 80-gun ship Guillaume
Tell, captain Saulnier, bearing the flag of rear-admiral Denis
Decres, taking advantage of a strong southerly gale and the
darkness that had succeeded the setting of the moon, sailed
from the harbour of Valetta at 1 1 h. 55 m. p.m. The Penelope,
then in-shore of the Lion who lay at anchor, having discovered
the french ship under a press of sail, captain Blackwood sent a
brig to apprize the commodore, and then stood after the stran-
ger. At half-past midnight the Penelope, luffing up under the
stern of the Guillaume Tell, gave her the larboard broadside.
She then bore away under her larboard quarter, and discharged
the starboard guns, receiving in return a fire from the 80-gun
ship's stern chasers. The Penelope continued to harass her ad-
versary by pouring in a raking fire with such effect, that before
the dawn of day on the 31st the Guillaume Tell's main and
mizen top-masts and main yard came down. About 5 a.m.
the Lion, steering between the Penelope and the enemy's ship,
and within pistol-shot of the latter's larboard side, opened a
destructive fire upon the crippled ship : then luffing up across
the bows of the Guillaume Tell, the latter's jib-boom passed
between the Lion's main and mizen shrouds; but as the jib-
boom was soon carried away, the 64 gained a position on the
bow of her antagonist, where she continued until 5 h 30 m.
a.m., by which time the Lion was so damaged by the heavy
broadside of the french ship, that she dropped astern. At 6 a. m.
the Foudroyant arrived up under a crowd of sail, and passing
close to the starboard side of her antagonist, poured in her
broadside, which the french ship immediately returned, and

HER GALLANT DEFENCE. 261

with such effect, as to cut away a great deal of the Foudroy-
ant's rigging. The latter unavoidably shot a-head, but having
regained her position, the firing recommenced. The second
broadside from the Guillaume Tell brought down the fore
top-mast, main top-sail yard, jib-boom, and sprit-sail yard of
the Foudroyant ; and having her sails cut to pieces, the british
80 dropped astern, leaving the Lion upon the enemy's lar-
board side, whilst the Penelope upon the same quarter was
occasionally firing at the enemy's ship. At 6 h. 30 m. a.m.,
just as the main and mizen-masts of the french ship came down,
the Foudroyant, having partially refitted herself, again closed
with her opponent. At 8 h. a.m. the Guillaume Tell lost her
fore-mast, and at 8 h. 20 m. this nobly-defended ship, from her
dismasted state rolled so heavily, that it became necessary to
close the lower deck ports, and being incapable of further
defence she struck her colours, having upwards of 200 men
killed and wounded. The Foudroyant had 8 killed and 64
wounded ; the Lion 8 killed and 38 wounded ; and the Pene-
lope 1 killed and 3 wounded. The officers of marines belong-
ing to these ships were as follows : — Foudroyant, captain
George Wolfe, lieutenants Richard Bunee, Zaccheus Miller,
and James Collins ; Lion, lieutenants Philip Patriarche and
John C. Hoskins ; and lieutenant John Senhouse, Penelope;
but as these officers composed part of the battalion landed at
Malta, it is doubtful if they had returned to their ships previous
to the action.

The brave garrison of Malta still holding out, a summons
was again sent to general Vaubois by the officer commanding
the blockading force, but the reply was in unison with that gal-
lant veteran's former message : — " Cette place est en trop bon
etat; et je suis moi-meme trop jaloux de bien servir mon pays,
et de conserver mon honneur, pour ecouter vos propositions.'
By the beginning of August all the beasts of burden had
been consumed, and dogs, cats, fowls, and rabbits, for want of
nourishment, had disappeared. Firewood began likewise to

262 SURRENDER OF MALTA.

fail, but this was remedied by breaking up the Boudeuse fri-
gate. There was also a great want of water, and the troops
were dying in numbers daily. The general being now convinced
that he could not hold out much longer, wished to save two fine
40-gun frigates to the republic, and accordingly on the evening
of the 24th the Diane and Justice put to sea; but they were soon
discovered and chased by the british squadron, and after a short
running fight with the Success frigate, the Diane, having only
114 men on board, struck her colours, but the Justice escaped
and arrived at Toulon.

On the 3rd of September general Vaubois proposed terms
for the surrender of the fortress, and on the 5th the articles of
capitulation were agreed to by the respective chiefs. Of the
two 64-gun ships in the port, the Athenien, the only one in a
sea-worthy state, was brought away.

On the 16th of March the Queen Charlotte of 100 guns,
captain Todd, was ordered by lord Keith to get under weigh
from Leghorn roads, and proceed to reconnoitre the island of
Capraia, then occupied by the French ; and on the succeeding
morning, when about three leagues from Leghorn, she was dis-
covered to be on fire. Assistance was immediately forwarded
from the shore, but many boats were deterred from approaching
the ship, by the guns going off in all directions as they became
heated by the flames. The fire is supposed to have originated
in some hay on the booms, which had ignited by falling on the
match-tub, usually kept there for firing signal-guns. The main-
sail being set at the time was instantly in flames, even before
the men could get at the clue garnets. Lieutenant Heneage
Dundas went below from the forecastle, with as many hands as
he could collect, to drown the lower deck ; the ports of which
were opened, the scuppers plugged, fore and main hatches
secured, the cocks turned, water drawn in at the ports, and the
pumps kept going, and by these exertions the lower deck was
kept free from fire for a long time ; nor did lieutenant Dundas
and Mr. John Baird, the carpenter, quit this station until the

LOSS OF QUEEN CHARLOTTE. 263

guns from the middle deck fell through. About 9 o'clock, find-
ing it impossible to remain below, these officers got out of the
fore-mast lower deck port, and climbed over the bows to the
forecastle, where there had assembled about 150 men, drawing
water and throwing it as fast as possible upon the fire. Before
1 0 o'clock the heat was so insufferable that few remained in the
head, and many, by jumping overboard, were saved by the boats
from the shore. Captain Breedon and lieutenant William Fer-
guson of the marines, jumped out of the stern-port, and swam
towards one of the ship's boats, which the lieutenant reached in
safety, but captain Breedon sunk, and was seen no more. Lieu-
tenant Thomas Peebles, of the marines, not being a swimmer,
had no chance of reaching the boat, and therefore hastened for-
ward, got up over the ship's bows to the head ; and as the last
extremity, when the flames had reached the forecastle and the
heat became too intense to be borne, he dropped overboard, and
was picked up after being some time in the water. There were
saved from the wreck 3 lieutenants, 2 lieutenants of marines, 3
midshipmen, the clerk, and 146 seamen and marines. Those
who perished were the captain, 3 lieutenants, 1 captain of ma-
rines, the master, purser, surgeon, boatswain, 4 master's mates,
18 midshipmen, 2 clerks, 3 surgeon's mates, and about 630
seamen and marines.

After the loss of the Queen Charlotte, lord Keith hoisted his
flag on board the Audacious 74, having under his orders the
Minotaur 74, several frigates, sloops, and gun-boats, which
squadron on several occasions successfully co-operated with the
austrian army in their attacks upon the outworks of Genoa ; and
within the first three weeks of May, the town had been thrice
bombarded. The French, being much annoyed by those at-
tacks, prepared a flotilla, consisting of a galley, rowing fifty-two
oars and mounting 2 brass thirty-six pounders of extraordinary
length, besides smaller pieces; an armed cutter, three armed
settees, and several gun-boats. On the 20th, in the afternoon,
this flotilla, standing outside the mole-head, exchanged several

264 PRIMA GALLEY.

shot with the british ships in passing, and the Audacious was
twice hulled by the long guns of the galley. At sunset the
flotilla took up a position under the guns of the two moles and
the city bastions.

On the 21st, at 1 a.m., the english flotilla made another at-
tack, when the batteries quickly returned the fire, particularly
from the thirty-six pounders of the Prima galley, now lying
chain-moored close to the inside of the old, or eastern mole-
head. Captain Beaver proposed carrying the galley by board-
ing, and after dark ten boats, containing about 100 officers and
men, drew off from the flotilla, and proceeded to the immediate
attack, in the hope of being able to reach the galley unper-
ceived; but a boat stationed between the two mole-heads
opened her fire upon them, and the British then dashed on
towards the galley ; the gunwhale of which projected upwards
of three feet from the side of the hull, and was strengthened by
a stout barricade, along the summit of which several wall-
pieces and blunderbusses were mounted. As an additional
obstruction to the advance of boats, the oars were banked, or
fixed in their places, with the handles secured to the benches or
thwarts ; and with a crew of 257 fighting men the Prima was
thus lying prepared, under the protection of formidable batte-
ries. She was first assaulted on the starboard-side a-midships
by a boat of the Haerlem, commanded by midshipman John
Caldwell, who was promptly supported by other boats ; while
the crew of the barge of the Minotaur, commanded by captain
Beaver, (who was accompanied by lieutenant Thomas Peebles
of the marines), and of the Vestal's launch, by lieutenant William
Gibson, got up over the quarter, and after a desperate struggle
with the french soldiers on the poop, they drove the enemy at
all points, the greater part jumping overboard; and in a few
minutes the commodore's broad pendant was hauled down by
lieutenant Gibson, when all further resistance ceased.

The boats were then ordered a-head to take the captured ves-
sel in tow, and the slaves in seeming cheerfulness manned the

EVACUATION OF GENOA. 265

sweeps. After a little delay in clearing her from her chain
moorings, the galley moved towards the entrance of the har-
bour under a tremendous fire of shot and shells, and from mus-
ketry on the mole-head, round which she passed within a dozen
yards, with no greater loss than 5 men wounded. Of the crew
of the galley, 1 was killed and 15 wounded by the British when
they boarded ; some were drowned, and many others succeeded
in reaching the shore. Before the galley was out of gun-shot,
an alarm was raised of fire below ; when a drunken french sailor
was discovered attempting to break open the door of the maga-
zine, for the purpose, as he unhesitatingly avowed, of blowing
up the ship. Had the wretch succeeded, nearly 500 persons
might have perished ; for besides the British and the 70 french
soldiers and seamen remaining on board, there were upwards of
300 miserable beings chained to the oars.

It is to be regretted that lord Keith in his official letter should
have been so regardless of the fair fame of his officers, as to have
omitted the names of every individual engaged in this very gal-
lant and well-conducted enterprise ; but we have the gratifica-
tion of recording the name of lieutenant Thomas Peebles of the
marines, who was one of the first on board the enemy.

On the 4th of June general Massena consented to evacu-
ate Genoa, and with his 8000 troops to retire to Nice ; conse-
quently, on the 5th the Audacious, Minotaur, and Genereux of
74 guns, and a small neapolitan squadron entered the mole. On
the very day on which the treaty was signed, Buonaparte after
crossing the Alps with a powerful army, entered Milan, and pro-
claimed afresh the Cisalpine republic. On the 7th the first
consul, still unacquainted with the surrender of Genoa, quitted
Milan to attack the Austrians ; and general d'Ott, who had
quitted Genoa after three days' possession, was defeated by
Buonaparte at Casteggio and Montebello.

On the 14th the famous battle of Marengo was fought, where
general Melas was defeated with a loss of 4500 men left dead
upon the field of battle, nearly 8000 wounded, above 6000 pri-

266 LTEUTENANT GERRARD.

soners, 12 stands of colours, and 30 pieces of cannon; and on
the part of the French, of 2000 killed, 3600 wounded, and 700
prisoners. A convention for a suspension of arms was signed
on the 15th at Alexandria, by which France was put in pos-
session of twelve important fortresses ; Genoa was consequently
re-occupied by the French, and general Massena returned to that
city on the 24th. The occupation was so sudden, that the Mi-
notaur found some difficulty in warping out of the mole in time
to make her escape.

Rear-admiral sir John Borlase Warren, cruising off the Pen-
marcks with the Renown and Defence, of 74 guns, Fisgard and
Unicorn frigates, detached the boats of the squadron on the
evening of the 10th of June, under command of lieutenant
Henry Burke, to cut out a convoy in the small harbour of St.
Croix, known to be laden with provisions for the Brest fleet;
and among the officers employed on this occasion, we find the
name of lieutenant Mark Anthony Gerrard of the marines, a
volunteer on that service. The boats proceeded to the attack
at 11 p. m., but owing to the freshness of the wind, they did not
reach the enemy's anchorage until after daylight on the 11th;
and notwithstanding they were opposed by a heavy battery, three
armed vessels, and a constant fire of musketry from the shore,
they captured a gun-boat mounting 2 long twenty-four pounders,
a chasse maree of 10, and another of 6 guns, and eight merchant
vessels. The remainder of the convoy, amounting to twenty sail,
escaped by running upon the rocks.

The boats of the same squadron, with the exception of the
Unicorn, in which lieutenant M. A. Gerrard of the marines was
again a volunteer, attacked a corvette mounting 28 guns, a brig of
18, a lugger of 16, and a cutter of 10 guns, lying at anchor with
several merchant vessels in Quimper river. At daylight on the
24th of June the boats arrived off' the entrance of the river, and
for their protection two divisions of marines were landed ; that
on the right commanded by lieutenant Burke of the Renown,
and that on the left by lieutenant Gerrard. The boats in the

EXPEDITION TO BOURGNEUF. 267

mean time pulled with all expedition to the attack, but the
enemy's vessels had retired far beyond their reach. After blow-
ing up three batteries, the British returned to their ships without
sustaining any loss.

Sir John B. Warren having received information that a large
convoy from Sables-d'Olonne, bound to Brest, was lying within
the island of Noirmontier, anchored the squadron in the bay of
Bourgneuf on the 1st of July, with the intention of attacking
the ship Therese of 20 guns, a lugger of 12, a cutter, and two
schooners of 6 guns each, moored within the sands of the bay,
under the protection of six batteries on the south-east part of
the island, besides flanking guns on several projecting points.
The boats after assembling on board the Fisgard, proceeded in
the evening in three divisions, amounting together to 192 officers
and men under lieutenant Burke, assisted by several officers,
including lieutenants of marines John Thompson, Charles Henry
Ballinghall, Mark Anthony Gerrard, and Hugh Hutton. At
midnight the British boarded, and after a spirited resistance,
carried the ship and three other armed vessels, as well as fifteen
sail of merchant-men, — the whole laden with provisions and ship-
timber for the Brest fleet ; but it being impossible to bring them
off, lieutenant Burke caused them to be effectually destroyed.
Having performed this essential service without incurring any
loss, the boats, in attempting to pass over the sand-banks, unfor-
tunately grounded, and in less tban ten minutes were left per-
fectly dry. In this helpless situation they were exposed to a
continual fire from the forts on Noirmontier island, and from the
musketry of 400 french soldiers. But nothing daunted by this
formidable opposition, the British attacked some vessels afloat
near them, in the hope of securing one sufficiently large to carry
them all off. Having accomplished this object, they by great
exertion and intrepidity drew her upwards of two miles over
the sands, until she floated, by which time the men were wad-
ing up to their middle in water. Notwithstanding this gallant
perseverance, 92 officers and men were taken prisoners, including

268 SEINE AND VENGEANCE.

lieutenants of marines Thompson and Ballinghall, who were
wounded ; but the remainder, after compelling the enemy to
retreat, got back to their ships.

On the 20th of August the 38-gun frigate Seine, captain David
Milne, when cruising in the Mona passage, at 8 h. 30 m. a. m.
gave chase to the french 40-gun frigate Vengeance. At 4 p.m.
the latter commenced firing her stern chasers, but it was not
until 11 h. 30 m. p.m. that the Seine reached a position on the
quarter of her opponent; and after exchanging some broadsides,
the rigging of the british ship was so disabled as to cause her to
drop astern. The remainder of the night was occupied in reev-
ing fresh rigging, while the ship continued carrying all the sail
she could in pursuit of the enemy. At 8 a. m. the Seine got
close alongside her opponent, and the action continued with
great spirit on both sides until 10 h. 30 m. a. m., when the Ven-
geance, having lost her fore-mast, mizen-mast, and main top-
mast, all of which had fallen in-board, with a loss of 35 killed
and 70 wounded, out of a crew of 326, hailed the Seine from
the bowsprit of the french ship that they had surrendered.
The Seine, out of 281 men and boys, had one lieutenant, George
Milne, and 12 killed ; lieutenant Archibald Macdonald of the
marines, and 24 wounded. Captain Milne, in speaking of his
officers, says, — " I am much indebted to the services of lieute-
nant Archibald Macdonald of the marines, who was taken down
wounded, and came up when dressed ; but was obliged from a
second wound to be taken below. Yet I am happy to state the
life of this valuable officer will be saved, to render further ser-
vices to his Majesty."

On the 29th of August, while the squadron under sir John B.
Warren, as already mentioned, with several transports in com-
pany, was proceeding along the coast of Spain, the french priva-
teer Guepe, mounting 18 long eight-pounders, and manned with
160 men, was seen to run into Vigo, and anchor near to some
batteries in the narrows of Redondella. In the evening a divi-
sion of twenty boats, under the orders of lieutenant Burke of the

CAPTURE OF GUEPE. 269

Renown, proceeded to the attack of the privateer. About 40
minutes past midnight the enemy discovered the boats ; and to
show that they were prepared to receive them, the crew of the
privateer cheered in defiance : the captain having laid over the
hatches, to prevent his men from quitting their quarters. Not-
withstanding these resolute preparations, the British gallantly
boarded, and in 15 minutes carried the Guepe, with the loss of
3 seamen and 1 marine killed ; 3 lieutenants, lieutenant John
Wright of the marines, 12 seamen, and 5 marines wounded.
The enemy's loss amounted to 25 killed and 40 wounded, in-
cluding her brave commmander, mortally wounded.

On the 3rd of September eight boats from the 74-gun ship
Minotaur and 32-gun frigate Niger {en flute), under the com-
mand of captain Hillyar of the latter, (in which service lieutenant
John Jewell of the marines was a volunteer), proceeded at 8 p.m.
to cut out two Spanish corvettes, the Esmeralda and Paz, each
mounting 22 guns, anchored in Barcelona roads. At 9 p. m.,
after receiving the broadside of the Esmeralda, the boats dashed
on, and were on board before the Spaniards had time to reload
their guns, and after a short struggle carried the corvette. On
hearing the cheers of the British, the Paz cut her cables to run
under the battery at the mole-head ; but the ship casting the
wrong way, she was boarded and in possession before 10 p. m. ;
and in spite of a fire from ten gun-boats, each armed with 2
thirty-six pounders, and a fort which threw shells from Mont-
jouic, the prizes were brought off, with a loss of only 2 sea-
men and 1 marine killed, and 5 wounded. On board the Paz,
1 man was killed and 4 wounded ; the Esmeralda had 2 killed
and 17 wounded.

The Phaeton frigate of 38-guns, captain J. N. Morris, cruising
off Malaga, discovered the Spanish national polacre-ship San
Josef, mounting 2 long twenty-four pounders in the bow, 2
brass long eighteen-pounders for stern chasers, with 4 twelve
and 6 four-pounders on her sides, having on board 34 seamen
and 24 soldiers, and moored under the protection of 5 guns

270 CAPTURE OF SAN JOSEF.

mounted on the fort of Fuengirola. On the evening of the
27th of October, an attempt to cut out this formidable vessel
being determined upon, the boats of the Phseton were placed
under the orders of lieutenant Francis Beaufort, supported by
lieutenant George Huish and lieutenant Duncan Campbell, of
the marines. On the approach of the boats, they were fired
upon by a french privateer-schooner that had entered during
the night, and which lay in a position to flank the polacre ;
nevertheless, the British got alongside the latter at 5 a. m. on
the 28th, and in spite of an obstinate resistance boarded and
carried her. Lieutenant Beaufort was severely wounded in the
head, and received several slugs through his left arm and body;
and lieutenant Campbell several slight sabre wounds. The to-
tal loss on the part of the British was 1 seaman killed, and 4
wounded. Of the crew of the San Josef 6 men were badly, and
13 slightly wounded.

On the 12th of October, lieutenants of marines Alexander,
Montgomerie, Mitchell, and Jordan, assisted, in the boats of the
Montagu and Magnificent, in capturing eleven vessels lying
under the protection of a battery and two armed vessels in a
harbour near l'Orient. Captain Knight, in reporting this ex-
ploit, concludes his letter by observing, — " This service, which
was completely and expeditiously performed with the loss of
only 1 killed and 3 wounded, has won my approbation, and will,
I trust, merit your lordships'."

271

CHAPTER VII.

From the year 1801 to 1804.

In this year, the naval strength was augmented to 135,000
men, including a considerable addition to the marines, which
establishment was increased to 22,696, and subsequently to
30,000 men.

In consequence of an attack made by a small british squa-
dron upon the danish 40-gun frigate Freija, in September 1798,
by enforcing a long recognised right of searching neutral ships
for contraband of war, but more particularly for the passage of
the Sound by a british squadron, the emperor Paul of Russia
issued an order for the sequestration of all british property in
his dominions. This, however, was shortly afterwards rescind-
ed; but on the 5th of November, the news of the capture of
Malta by the British occasioned an embargo to be laid on all
our shipping in the ports of Russia, amounting to more than
200 sail. A convention between Russia and Sweden soon fol-
lowed, both parties agreeing to an armed neutrality ; and Den-
mark, at the instigation of the former, was also induced to join
the confederacy. Whilst thus menaced by the threatening atti-
tude of the three northern powers, their hostile preparations were
met by a corresponding resistance on the part of Great Britain ;
and on the 12th of March admiral sir Hyde Parker was de-
spatched from Yarmouth roads, with fifteen sail of the line, and
as many frigates, sloops, and bombs as made the whole arma-
ment amount to fifty-three sail ; and there were embarked on
board a division of this fleet, under command of Colonel Stewart
of the 49th regiment, two companies of rifles, and a detachment
of artillery.

272 EXPEDITION TO COPENHAGEN.

The nominal force of the three powers, against which the
british fleet was destined to act, was as follows : Russia eighty-
two, Denmark twenty-three, and Sweden eighteen sail of the
line, having between them eighty frigates and corvettes ; but
Russia did not really possess more than sixty-one sail, thirty-
one being in the Baltic, and the remainder in the Mediter-
ranean and Black Seas. Of these thirty-one ships, which were
divided between the different ports of Russia, not above twenty
sail of the line could be brought to act as a fleet ; and even
these were badly equipped and wretchedly manned. The
Swedes had eleven sail of the line at Carlscrona, and by all
accounts tolerably manned ; whilst the Danish force at Copen-
hagen consisted of ten sail of the line ready for sea, exclusive
of about the same number in an unserviceable state. Thus,
the reputed force, as stated by several writers, of eighty-eight
sail, did not exceed forty-one of the line; and it must have
been under fortunate circumstances that twenty-five of these
forty-five sail, could be assembled on any particular time and
place. Moreover, this reduced number made up of three dif-
ferent nations, and very little acquainted with naval tactics,
were opposed to a fleet of fifteen sail of British, under rear-
admiral Nelson.

In the hope that Denmark, in spite of her hostile demonstra-
tions, would be inclined to negotiate, the honourable Nicholas
Vansittart took his departure for Copenhagen on the 12th.
Owing to the blowing weather, the fleet did not reach the en-
trance of the Sound until the 21st, when the ships anchored off
Knoll-point, on the Swedish shore. On the 23rd the Blanche,
with Mr. Vansittart on board, returned to the fleet from Copen-
hagan, bringing also Mr. Drummond the british charge d'af-
faires at that capital, who, instead of a reply of conciliation from
the danish government, brought one of open defiance; and the
Danes, taking advantage of the time which had been lost in ne-
gotiating, had considerably strengthened their means of defence.

At 6 a.m. on the 30th, with a fine breeze at north-north-west,

BIUTISH PASS THE SOUND. 273

the british fleet proceeded into the Sound, in line a-head. At
7 a. m. the batteries at Elsineur opened their fire upon the
Monarch and the other ships in succession as they passed ; but
not a shot struck them, nor did any but the van ships fire in
return. The seven bomb-vessels, however, threw shells, and
about 200 are stated to have fallen in Cronenberg and Hel-
singen, where they did some damage. The British observing
that there were only a few guns mounted on the Swedish shore,
passed near the castle of Helsinburg, and thus avoided the fire
from above 100 pieces of cannon on Cronenberg castle.

At noon the fleet anchored, when about fifteen miles from
the city of Copenhagen ; and the commander-in-chief, accom-
panied by vice-admiral lord Nelson and rear-admiral Graves,
with the commanding-officer of the troops, proceeded in the
Lark lugger to reconnoitre the enemy's defences. A council of
war was held in the evening, at which it was proposed to delay
the attack; but lord Nelson, in urging immediate operations,
offered to carry the business through in a proper manner with
ten sail of the line, and a proportionate number of smaller ves-
sels. This proposal met the approbation of admiral Parker,
who added two 50-gun ships to the number stipulated by his
enterprising second in command.

The approach to Copenhagen was through an intricate chan-
nel, which the Danes had rendered more difficult by judiciously
removing or misplacing the buoys on the shoals ; but this was
remedied by the anxious care of lord Nelson, who proceeded
on the same evening to re-buoy the outer channel, — a narrow
passage lying between the island of Saltholm and the Middle
Ground. It was at first intended to make the attack from the
northward, but a second examination of the Danish position on
the 31st, and a favourable change of wind, determined the vice-
admiral to commence operations from the southward.

The Battle of Copenhagen.
On the morning of the 1st of April the british fleet got under
VOL. 1. t

274

OFFICERS OF MARINES IN

weigh, but shortly afterwards re-anchored off the western ex-
tremity of the Middle Ground, — a shoal extending along the
whole sea-front of the city of Copenhagen, leaving an interven-
ing channel of deep water, called the King's channel, which is
about three-quarters of a mile wide : in this channel, close to
the town, the Danes had moored their line of defence, consist-
ing of block-ships, radeaus, prames, and gun-vessels. Lord
Nelson having embarked on board the Amazon during the
forenoon, again reconnoitred the position he was about to attack;
and soon after his return, at 1 p. m., the Elephant made the
signal to weigh, which intimation was welcomed by a hearty
cheer from the british fleet.

The vice-admiral's squadron, amounting in the whole to
thirty-six square-rigged vessels, was soon under sail in two
divisions, with a light but favourable wind, and, led by the
Amazon, entered the upper channel, coasting along the edge of
the Middle Ground until they had reached and partly rounded
its southern extremity, where at about 8 p.m. they anchored:
the north- westernmost ship was then about two miles distant
from the southernmost of the danish line.

British squadron under the command of lord Nelson before
Copenhagen, 2nd cf April, 1801 :

Elephant, 74 guns, vice-admiral lord Nelson, captain T. Foley,
10 killed, 13 wounded. Captain-lieutenant Thomas Piers,
first-lieutenant John Claperton, second-lieut. W. B. Watts.

Defiance, 74 guns, rear-admiral T. Graves, captain E. Retalick,
24 killed, 51 wounded. Captain Jos. Lambrecht, seccnd-
lieutenant James DufF, second-lieutenant William Furber.

Edgar, 74 guns, captain G. Murray, 31 killed, 111 wounded.
Captain Alexander Mackenzie, second-lieutenant Benjamin
Spencer (killed), second-lieutenant James Campbell.

Monarch, 74 guns, captain J. R. Mosse (killed), 5Q killed, 164
wounded. Captain Anthony Stransham, first-lieutenant
James Marrie, second-lieutenant J. C. Urquhart.

THE BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN. 275

Bellona, 74 guns, captain sir T. B. Thompson (wounded), 11
killed, 72 wounded. Captain Samuel Williams, first-lieu-
tenant Henry A.. Durre, second-lieutenants Robert Hall and
John George.

Ganges, 74 guns, captain T. F. Freemantle, 7 killed, 1 wounded.
Captain John B. Savage, first-lieutenant Christopher Abbott,
second-lieutenant Charles R. Miller.

Russell, 74 guns, captain W. Cumming, 6 wounded. Captain-
lieutenant William Barry, lieutenant George H. L. Crispin.

Agamemnon, 64 guns, captain R. D. Fancourt.

Ardent, 64 guns, captain T. Bertie, 30 killed, 64 wounded.
Captain John Hopper, second-lieutenant Charles Symonds,
Charles H. Ballinghall.

Polyphemus, 64 guns, captain J. Lawford, 6 killed, 25 wounded.
Captain George Edward Roby, second-lieutenant Joseph
Langston.

Glatton, 50 guns, captain W. Bligh, 18 killed, 37 wounded.
First-lieutenant Peter Lely, second-lieutenant. Richard
Rouse.

Isis, 50 guns, captain J. Walker, 33 killed, and 88 wounded.
Lieutenant Henry Long (killed), lieutenant Richard Mc
Cormick.

Amazon, 38 guns, captain H. Riou (killed), 14 killed, 23
wounded. First-lieutenant Demetrius Grevis James.

Desiree, 36 guns, captain H. Inman, 4 wounded. Second-lieu-
tenant John Humphries.

Blanche, 36 guns, captain G. E. Hammond, 7 killed, 9 wound-
ed. Lieutenant Robert Clarke.

Alcmene, 32 guns, captain S. Sutton, 5 killed, 19 wounded.
First-lieutenant Stephen M. Sandys (wounded).

Jamaica, 24 guns, captain J. Rose.

Arrow, 28 guns, captain W. Bolton.

Dart, 28 guns, captain J. F. Devonshire, 3 killed, 1 wounded.
Total,— 255 killed, and 688 wounded.
Brigs : Cruiser and Harpy.

t 2

276 DANISH FORCE.

Bomb-vessels : Discovery, Explosion, Hecla, Sulphur, Terror,
Volcano, and Zebra.

Fire-ships : Otter and Zephyr, and some gun brigs, &c.
Leaving at anchor, under admiral Parker, the following : Lon-
don 98, admiral sir Hyde Parker, St. George 98, Warrior 74,
Defence 74, Saturn 74, Ramillies, Raisonable, and Veteran, of
64 guns. Part of the night was passed in active preparations
for the attack : captain T. M. Hardy proceeded in a small
boat to examine the channel, and approached so near the danish
line as to sound around the first ship, using a pole lest the
heaving the lead should betray them.

The danish force consisted of two-decked ships, chiefly old
and in a dismantled state, frigates, prames, and radeaus, mount-
ing altogether 628 guns; and these eighteen vessels were moor-
ed in a line extending more than a mile, flanked at the north
end, or that nearest the town, by two artificial or pile-formed
islands, called the Trek oner batteries ; one of 30 twenty- four, the
other of 38 thirty-six pounders, with furnaces for heating shot ;
and both these batteries were commanded by the two-decked
block-ships Mars and Elphanten. Off the harbour and docks,
which lie in the heart of the city, were moored two 74-gun
ships, a 40-gun frigate, two large brigs, and several armed
xebecs ; and these vessels also had furnaces for heating shot.
Along the shore of Amag island, a little way to the southward
of the floating line, were several gun and mortar batteries ; and
thus the extent of the line of defence in front of Copenhagen
covered a space of between three and four miles.

On the 2nd of April a favourable breeze sprang up with the
break of day, when all the captains were called on board the
Elephant by signal, and the plan of attack determined upon ;
the ships being directed to anchor by the stern, abreast of their
opponents in the danish line. At 9 h. 30 m. a. m. lord Nelson
made the signal for the ships to weigh in succession. The
Edgar was the leading ship, and the Agamemnon was to have
followed, but having anchored outside the end of the great

BATTLE COMMENCES. 277

shoal, she was unable to weather it, and was consequently
obliged again to anchor in six fathoms water. The Polyphe-
mus now followed the Edgar, and the Isis was the third ship.
The Bellona, in hugging too close to the Middle Ground, stuck
fast when about 450 yards from the rear of the danish line ;
and the Bellona, following close to the Russell, also grounded,
with her jib-boom almost over her leader's taffrail. The Ele-
phant was next to the Russell, and lord Nelson, on perceiving
the situation of that ship, ordered the helm to be put a-star-
board, and passed to the westward, or along the Russell's lar-
board beam : all the successive ships followed the same course,
and reached their stations in safety. Admiral Parker's squa-
dron got under sail at the same time that lord Nelson weighed,
and took up a new position nearer to the mouth of the harbour,
but still at too great a distance to do more than menace the
north wing of defence.

At 10 a. m. the cannonade commenced, and for the first half
hour the only ships engaged were Polyphemus, Isis, Edgar,
Ardent, and Monarch. About il h. 30 m. a.m. the Glatton,
Elephant, Ganges, and Defiance reached their stations, as did
the several frigates, bombs, etc. The Desiree, by raking the
Provoosteen, was of great service in drawing her attention from
the Polyphemus and Isis ; particularly from the latter, who
bore the brunt of that ship's heavy fire, and suffered severely.
Owing to the strength of the current, the Jamaica, with the
gun-vessels and bombs, could not get near enough to do much
execution. The unfortunate circumstance of the Bellona, Russell,
and Agamemnon remaining aground, occasioned several of the
bhtish ships to have a greater share of the enemy's fire than
could have been anticipated, or that they were well able to bear :
the Amazon was among the many sufferers on that account, as
well as the four other smaller ships under the orders of captain
Riou, who consequently had to contend with the Trekoner bat-
teries. The cannonade had continued three hours, when sir
Hyde Parker, considering that the Defence, Ramillies, and Ve-

278

SIGNAL OF RECALL.

teran (which had been detached to reinforce lord Nelson) were
approaching but slowly, and that the three line of battle ships
remained immoveable where they had grounded, while the
Agamemnon continued in the same position with signal of in-
ability flying, was induced to throw out the signal to discon-
tinue the engagement.

It is related of lord Nelson, that when the signal-lieutenant
reported that No. 39, " leave off action," was flying on board
the London, the vice-admiral continued to walk the deck and
appeared not to notice it. The officer meeting him at the next
turn, asked if he should repeat it: " No !" he sharply replied,
" answer it." Presently his lordship called after him to know
if the signal for close action was still hoisted ; and on being
answered in the affirmative, he quickly observed, " Mind you
keep it so." Then reverting to the message of the commander-
in-chief, he exclaimed, " Leave off action ? No, d n me if

I do ! You know, Foley," turning to the captain, " I have
only one eye : I have a right to be blind sometimes," and
then putting the glass to the blind eye, in that mood of mind
which sports with bitterness, he exclaimed, " I really do not

see the signal." Presently he exclaimed, "D n the signal!

keep mine for closer action flying ! That's the way I answer
such signals ; — nail mine to the mast ! " On board the Ele-
phant the signal was never repeated ; and although it did ap-
pear on board the Defiance, rear-admiral Graves would not
suffer the flags to be hoisted any where but at the lee main
top-sail yard-arm ; whilst he kept " No. 16," the signal for close
action, flying at the main top-gallant mast-head.

About this time the frigates and sloops had suffered so se-
verely, as to be compelled to haul off from the Trekoner bat-
teries ; and while the Amazon was unavoidably exposed to
their raking fire, captain Riou and several men were killed.
The fire of the Danes began to slacken at 1 h. 30 m., and by
2 p. m. it had nearly ceased along the whole line astern of the
Zealand, the sixth ship from the rear. Some of the smaller

nelson's letter. 279

craft had gone adrift, and but few of the vessels whose flags
had been struck would allow themselves to be taken possession
of; for reinforcements were constantly arriving from the shore,
who did not inquire whether the flag had been struck or not ;
many of them had never been engaged in war before, knowing
nothing of its laws, and thinking only of devoting themselves
to the defence of their country.

Lord Nelson was so irritated by these proceedings, that he
meditated sending in fire-ships to burn the surrendered vessels :
as a preliminary measure, however, his lordship wrote the cele-
brated letter to the Crown Prince of Denmark, wherein he says,
" Vice-admiral lord Nelson has been commanded to spare Den-
mark when she no longer resists. The line of defence which
covered her shores has struck to the british flag ; but if the
firing is continued on the part of Denmark, he must set on fire
all the prizes he has taken, without having the power of saving
the men who have so nobly defended them. The brave Danes
are the brothers, and should never be the enemies of English-
men." A wafer was then brought, but Nelson ordered a candle,
and sealing the letter with wax, his lordship observed, " This
is no time to appear hurried and informal." This letter was
immediately despatched by captain sir Frederic Thesiger, act-
ing as aide-de-camp to lord Nelson, who found the Crown
Prince at the sally-port. In the mean time, the destructive
cannonade was still kept up by the Defiance, Monarch, and
Ganges, who silenced the fire of several ships in the rear of
the danish line ; but the great crown-battery, comparatively
uninjured, still continued its fire, and as 1500 men had been
thrown into it from the shore, it was considered too strong to
be stormed. Preparations were making to withdraw the fleet
from the intricate channel while the wind continued fair, when
the danish adjutant-general arrived with a flag of truce ; upon
sight of which the Trekoner ceased firing, and the cannonade,
which had continued five hours, was brought to a close.

The message from the Crown Prince being to ascertain the

280 CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES.

precise object of lord Nelson's note, the vice-admiral replied, in
writing, that as humanity was his chief consideration, he con-
sented to stay hostilities, and was desirous that the wounded
Danes should be taken on shore. It was his intention to take
his prisoners out of the captured vessels, and then burn or
carry off the prizes as he might afterwards determine. In con-
clusion, his lordship expressed his hope, that the victory he had
gained would lead to a conciliation between the two countries.
Sir Frederic Thesiger returned with the adjutant-general, and
the latter was referred to the british commander-in-chief for a
final adjustment of the terms. The cessation of hostilities was
a favourable moment, and readily taken advantage of by re-
moving the leading british ships, all of whom were much crip-
pled in their rigging and sails. The Monarch touched upon the
shoal, but the Ganges taking her a-midships, pushed her over
it. The Glatton, drawing less water, passed clear, but the De-
fiance and Elephant grounded about a mile from the crown
battery, and, notwithstanding the great exertion of their crews,
remained immovable several hours ; whilst the Desiree, who had
gone to assist the Bellona at the opposite end of the line, be-
came fixed on the same shoal. The Bellona was, however,
soon afloat, having extricated herself by picking up the cable
which the Isis had slipped, and by that means hove off the
shoal. Soon after the Elephant grounded, lord Nelson follow-
ed the danish adjutant-general on board the London to attend
the conference, which secured to England one of her brightest
triumphs.

The danish floating batteries were mostly knocked to pieces ;
and it is probable that they would have been reduced to that
condition in far less time than four hours, had the pilots ventur-
ed to place the ships nearer than three and four hundred yards,
in which case the heavy carronades of the Ardent and Glatton
would have produced their full effect. It would be impossible
to make an accurate return of the loss sustained by the Danes,
as the ships were frequently re-peopled from the shore ; but the

MELPOMENE AT SENEGAL. 281

aggregate of killed, wounded, and prisoners has been stated at
6000 men.

The night of the 2nd of April was employed by the British in
bringing away the captured vessels, and in floating the grounded
ships. The generality of the prizes were so defective and worth-
less, that the whole, with the exception of the Holstein of 60
guns, were, destroyed. On the 9th an armistice was agreed
upon, which was to continue for fourteen weeks, and Denmark
engaged to suspend all proceedings under the armed neutrality
which she had entered into with Sweden and Russia.

The thanks of Parliament were voted to the officers, seamen,
and marines in the fleet for the gallantry displayed before Co-
penhagen on the 2nd of April. Three commanders were pro-
moted to post rank ; the senior lieutenants of each ship engaged
also gained a step, and the rank of brevet-major was conferred
on captain James Lambrecht, the senior officer of marines in
the squadron.

On the 3rd of January 1801, at 9h. 30 m. p.m., five boats of
the 38-gun frigate Melpomene, captain sir Charles Hamilton,
manned with 55 volunteers from that ship, 5 from a transport in
company, and lieutenant Christie with 35 men from the African
corps, under the orders of lieutenant Thomas Dick, assisted by
lieutenant Wm. Palmer and lieutenant Wm. Vyvian of the ma-
rines, proceeded to the attack of a french 18-gun brig-corvette
and an armed schooner, at the entrance of the Senegal river.
Having passed the heavy surf on the bar in safety, and without
discovery by the battery on the point, the boats at 11 p.m. had
arrived within a few yards of the brig; when by a single dis-
charge of her 2 bow guns, two of them were sunk, and lieute-
nant Palmer and 7 seamen were killed. Notwithstanding this
loss, the three remaining boats dashed alongside, boarded, and
after a severe contest of twenty minutes carried the french brig
Senegal, of 18 long eight and twelve-pounder carronades and 60
men, whilst the schooner cut her cables and took shelter under
the battery. The prize was immediately got under sail, but

282 PHCEBE AND AFRICANS.

having unfortunately grounded on the bar, after several attempts
to get her or! she was abandoned ; and the three boats suc-
ceeded in reaching the ship across a heavy surf, and exposed to
a severe fire of grape and musketry from the adjoining batteries.
In this gallant affair lieutenant Palmer, lieutenant of marines
Wm. Vyvian, and 9 men were killed, and 18 wounded.

On the 19th of February, at 4 p. m., the 36-gun frigate Phoebe,
captain Robert Barlow, when about two leagues to the east-
ward of Gibraltar, discovered and chased a strange ship near
Ceuta, steering up the Mediterranean under a press of sail. At
7 h. 30 m. p. m., the stranger finding an action unavoidable,
shortened sail ; and on the Phcebe firing a shot at her, a broad-
side was returned from the french 40-gun frigate Africaine,
commodore Le Saulnier, having 400 troops on board, bound to
Egypt. The Phcebe steering a parallel course with the enemy,
continued engaging within pistol-shot until 9 h. 30m. p.m., when
the Africaine being nearly unrigged, having five feet water in
the hold, and having sustained a loss of 200 killed and 143
wounded, out of a crew of 715 men, struck her colours. Of the
crew of 239 on board the Phoebe, only 1 man was killed; her
first-lieutenant J. W. Holland, her master Thomas Griffiths,
and 10 men wounded. Lieutenant Thomas Weaver commanded
the detachment of marines on board the Phcebe.

On the 3rd of April the 36-gun frigate Trent, captain sir Ed-
ward Hamilton, while lying at anchor off the Isle of Brehat, at
daylight discovered a ship with a cutter and lugger, steering
towards Plampoul. The boats of the frigate were immediately
despatched after the strangers, under the orders of lieutenant
George Chamberlayne, with the other officers of the frigate.
Several boats from the shore took the ship in tow, but on the
approach of the British they cast her off, and prepared to de-
fend themselves. After a sharp conflict the french lugger
and boats were driven on the rocks, and although protected by
five batteries, the ship, which was a captured english vessel,
was boarded and brought away. Lieutenant Taite of the ma-

NELSON ATTACKS THE FLOTILLA. 283

rines unfortunately lost a leg upon this occasion ; which acci-
dent, with 2 seamen killed, was the extent of the loss sustained
by the British.

After Buonaparte had concluded the treaty of Luneville on
the 9th of February with the emperor of Germany, the first
consul seemed to entertain serious hopes of landing his victo-
rious legions on the shores of Britain. The port of Boulogne
was to be the central rendezvous of the grand flotilla ; and in
the month of July nine divisions of gun-vessels, with nine bat-
talions of troops, besides artillery, were ordered to assemble.
These preparations spread considerable alarm on the coast of
England, and caused corresponding preparations for the defen-
sive to be made by the british government. Vice-admiral lord
Nelson was appointed to the chief command from Orfordness
to Beachy Head ; and having his flag on board the 32-gun
frigate Medusa, he sailed from the Downs with about thirty
other vessels, and on the 4th of August bombarded the port of
Boulogne.

On the night of the 15th the boats of the squadron, in four
divisions, accompanied by several mortar-boats, made an attack
on the french flotilla ; but owing to the darkness of the night
and the uncertainty of the tide, the attacking party separated.
The first division, under captain Somerville, was carried con-
siderably to the eastward of Boulogne bay; and finding it im-
practicable to reach the flotilla in the order prescribed, the
boats were ordered to cast each other off, and make the best of
their way towards the enemy. A little before day-break on the
1 6th, some of the leading boats attacked a brig lying close to
the pier-head, and after a sharp conflict carried her ; but owing
to the vessel being secured with a chain, and the heavy fire of
grape and musketry from the shore and four armed vessels
within pistol-shot, they were compelled to abandon their prize.
The boats now retreated with a loss of 18 killed and 55 wound-
ed ; among the latter was captain George Young of the ma-
rines. The other three divisions attacked with equal determi-

284 MARINES AT PORTO- FERRAJO.

nation, but were alike unsuccessful, and their combined loss
amounted to 44 men killed and 71 wounded; making a total
in this gallant enterprise of 62 men killed and 126 wounded.

On the 3rd of August the 38-gun frigate Pomone, captain E.
L. Gower, having outsailed the three other frigates with which
she was cruising off Elba, at 8h. 10 m. p.m., after the inter-
change of a few shot from their chase guns, and a resistance of
about ten minutes duration, captured the french 40-gun frigate
Carrere. The Pomone had 2 men killed; lieutenant Charles
Douglas of the marines lost a leg, and 2 seamen were wounded.

On the 2nd of September the french frigates Bravoure and
Succes, which had sailed from Leghorn on the 31st of August,
were discovered by the british frigates Minerve, Pomone, and
Phoenix, then lying in the Piombino channel. After a pursuit
of some hours, the Succes ran aground on the shore of Vada,
and was taken possession of by the Pomone ; whilst the Bra-
voure grounded under the battery of Antignano, and was totally
wrecked.

Shortly after the disposal of these frigates, which had hitherto
created great annoyance to the garrison of Porto-Ferrajo, lieu-
tenant-colonel George Airey, commanding the british troops in
that fortress, applied to rear-admiral sir J. B. Warren for the
assistance of the marines of the squadron under his command
to attack some of the french batteries, and those especially
which shut up the port. Immediate preparation was made for
the active co-operation of the squadron, consisting of the Re-
nown, Gibraltar, Dragon, Alexander, Genereux, and Stately, of
the line, with Pomone and Pearl frigates, and Vincejo brig.
On the 13th at day-break the Dragon and Genereux, to create
a diversion, opened a fire upon the round tower of Marciana;
and on the 14th, a little before daylight, 449 marines, under
the following officers, were landed : —

Captains : Robert Johnstone, John Richardson, and Francis
Williams.

Lieutenants : James Fischatt, Joseph Coombs, John Clarke,

LIEUTENANT WILSON AT TREMITI. 285

Thomas M'Gill, Michael Burton, David Weir, William Ravens-
croft, David Holt, W. D. Jervis, Beddingford Pagedon, Frede-
rick William Mann, John Davidson, and George Peebles.

This battalion, in conjunction with 200 seamen and a party
of Tuscans, amounting in the whole to about 1000 men, were
formed into two divisions, under the direction of captain J. C.
White of the Renown. After a successful attack upon the bat-
teries, which were destroyed, and taking 55 prisoners, includ-
ing three captains and two subalterns, the allied force was
opposed to very superior numbers, and compelled to retire with
a loss of 32 men killed, 61 wounded, and 105 missing. Lieu-
tenant Clarke of the marines was wounded and made prisoner.
Captain James Weir commanded a Maltese corps, and distin-
guished himself on this occasion ; and he again signalized him-
self in a subsequent sortie on the night of the 10th of October.
The garrison continued to defend itself until the treaty of Amiens
produced a cessation of hostilities.

On the 25th of May, lieutenant Wilson of the marines assisted
in the boats of the 28-gun frigate Mercury, under the orders of
lieutenant William Mather, in attacking the late british bomb-
vessel Bull-dog, lying moored off the mole of Ancona. She
was boarded and the cables cut, when the alarm having spread,
a heavy fire was opened upon the British of musketry and can-
non. A favourable light breeze enabled the prize to gain suffi-
cient offing as to be without the reach of the batteries, when it
unfortunately fell calm ; and the current carrying the captured
vessel close to the shore, she was attacked by the gun-boats,
and lieutenant Mather was reluctantly compelled to abandon
his prize, with the loss of 2 killed, and 4 wounded.

Lieutenant Wilson was again employed in the boats in the
attack of a pirate tartan, mounting 8 guns, and a crew of 60
men, lying among the rocks of the small islands of Tremiti,
in the gulf of Venice. Notwithstanding the boats were exposed
to a sharp fire of cannon and musketry, both from the vessel
and from a four-pounder upon an eminence, they gallantly

286

ATTACK OF THE CHEVRETTE.

rowed m ; and while lieutenant Mather boarded the vessel, lieu-
tenant Wilson landed with the marines, and drove the enemy
from the hill, taking several prisoners. The service being
fully accomplished, the marines re-embarked, and the tartan
was brought out without any loss on the part of the British.

In the month of July the Beaulieu, Doris, and Uranie frigates
were lying at anchor about 3 miles to the south-south-east of
St. Matthew's light-house, and in full view of the combined fleet
of France and Spain, when the french 20-gun ship-corvette
Chevrette was discovered also at anchor under some batteries
in Camaret bay. It was resolved to make an attempt to cut
her out from this position of apparent security ; accordingly, on
the night of the 20th the boats of the Beaulieu and Doris,
manned entirely by volunteers, and placed under the orders of
lieutenant Woodley Losack of the Ville de Paris, proceeded on
this enterprise. From the circumstance of the boats not pulling
alike, the detachments separated, and some returned to their
ships ; whilst the remainder, having reached the entrance of the
bay of Camaret, lay upon their oars until daylight on the 21st,
and disappointed in not having been supported by their compa-
nions, they pulled back to the frigates. As they had been dis-
covered by the Chevrette as well as from the shore, so much of
the plan as contemplated a surprise was defeated ; consequently
the corvette on the following morning got under weigh, and
having run about a mile and a half further up the bay, she was
moored close under some heavy batteries. The Chevrette then
embarked a detachment of soldiers, sufficient to augment her
number of men to 339, and made the most careful preparation
to repel an attack ; bringing the arms and ammunition upon
deck, and loading the guns with grape and canister. Having
thus profited by the discovery of the morning, the corvette, in
defiance, displayed a large french ensign over the english co-
lours. This insulting bravado, while it tended to inspire the
British with increased ardour to renew the attack, made them
more determined to reverse the position of the national flags.

GALLANT CONFLICT. 287

At about 9 h. 30 m. p. m. the boats of the three frigates,
joined by two from the Robust, numbering altogether fifteen
boats, containing 280 officers and men, still under the command
of lieutenant Losack, proceeded again to the attack of the Chev-
rette. Shortly after their departure, the division of six boats
under that officer went in chase of a boat supposed to be from
the shore. The remainder lay on their oars, awaiting the return
of the commanding officer; and after some time had elapsed,
lieutenant Keith Maxwell of the Beaulieu, the next officer in
command, considering that they had at least six miles to pull,
and that the night was far advanced, resolved, notwithstand-
ing that his force was now reduced to 180 men, to proceed
without further delay. He then gave orders, that whilst one
party was engaged in disarming the enemy on deck, some of the
smartest topmen of the Beaulieu should fight their way aloft
and loose the sails ; others to cut the cable, and a quarter-
master was named, who was to take charge of the helm of the
corvette.

It was about 1 p. m. on the 22nd when the boats arrived in
sight of the Chevrette ; who, after hailing, opened a heavy fire
of musketry and grape, and presently there was a loud roll of
musketry from the shore. In face of this determined prepara-
tion, the boats dashed nobly on towards the ship : those of the
Beaulieu, under lieutenants Maxwell and James Pasley, with
lieutenant James Sinclair of the marines, boarded on the star-
board bow and quarter ; those of the Uranie under lieutenant
Martin Neville, one of the Robust's under midshipman Robert
Warren, and one of the Doris's under lieutenant Walter Burke,
on the larboard bow. The French obstinately opposed the as-
sailants, and in their turn boarded the boats ; whilst in their
efforts to overcome this formidable opposition, many of the
British lost their fire-arms, and with their swords only suc-
ceeded in gaining a footing on the enemy's deck. Those who
had been selected for going aloft, fought their way to their re-
spective stations, and although some were killed and wounded,

288 CAPTURE OF CHEVRETTE.

the remainder gained the corvette's yards ; and here, finding
the foot ropes strapped up, the intrepid fellows had to scramble
out upon their hands and knees : yet so quickly was this part
of the service performed, that in less than three minutes after
the boats got alongside, and in a conflict against numbers more
than trebly superior, the three top-sails and courses were loosened,
and the cable having been cut at the same time, the shi casted
as a light breeze sprang up from off the land, and the Chevrette
began drifting out of the bay. The Frenchmen perceiving their
sails fall, and the ship under way, were seized with astonishment
and consternation : some leaped overboard, whilst others threw
away their arms, and ran down the hatchways. The British
had now possession of the upper deck, but those of the cor-
vette's crew who had fled below, still maintained a smart fire of
musketry ; nevertheless, they were soon overpowered, and com-
pelled to submit. The batteries continued to fire at the ship,
and just as she cleared the point it fell calm, and she became
exposed to a shower of shot and shell ; but a light breeze from
the north-east soon drove her out of their range. About this
time some boats were seen approaching from the direction of
Brest; and lieutenant Maxwell, suspecting them to be enemies,
was preparing for a new conflict, when the strangers were re-
cognised as the division under lieutenant Losack, to which offi-
cer Mr. Maxwell resigned the command.

This gallant and unequalled exploit was performed in the
presence of the combined fleet of France and Spain, by an
officer on his own judgment and responsibility ; and whose in-
trepidity and presence of mind, seconded by the wonderful exer-
tions of the officers and men under his command, succeeded in
effecting an enterprise, which, by those who reflect .upon its pe-
culiar circumstances, will ever be regarded with admiration and
astonishment. Lieutenant of marines James Sinclair, Mr. Ro-
bert Warren, midshipman, 7 seamen, and 2 marines were killed ;
lieutenants Martin Neville and Walter Burke (the latter mor-
tally), 3 midshipmen, Edward Crofton, Edward Byrn, and Ro-

LIEUTENANT GERRARD.

289

bert Finnis, 42 seamen, and 9 marines wounded ; and 1 marine
drowned in the Beaulieu's barge, which was sunk by the ene-
my's shot. Total, — 1 1 killed, 57 wounded, and 1 drowned.

The Chevrette had her captain, 2 lieutenants, 3 midshipmen,
1 lieutenant of infantry, and 85 men killed ; 1 lieutenant, 4 mid-
shipmen, and 57 seamen and soldiers wounded. Total, — 92
killed, and 62 wounded.

Lieutenants Rose and Sinclair of the marines were both vo-
lunteers in this enterprise, and the latter was killed in the act.
of defending Mr. Crofton, midshipman of the Doris, who, in his
efforts to get on board the corvette, was wounded in twro places.

On the night of the 20th of August, the boats of the Fisgard,
Diamond, and Boadicea frigates, under the orders of lieutenant
Philip Pipon, boarded and carried the Spanish ship Neptune of
20 guns, a gun-boat mounting a long twenty-four pounder, and
a merchant ship, all moored within the strong batteries of Co-
runna, and within pistol-shot of the shore. The three vessels
were brought out without sustaining the slightest loss. Lieute-
nant Mark Anthony Gerrard of the marines was a volunteer in
this gallant affair.

Lieutenant Gerrard was so much esteemed by his shipmates
in the Fisgard, with whom he had so frequently acquitted him-
self with valour and honour, that a gratifying testimony was
conferred upon him by his gallant companions. It consisted of a
handsome sabre and belt, with the following inscription : —

" This sabre and belt are presented to first-lieutenant Gerrard
of the marines, by those who served with him on board his Ma-
jesty's ship Fisgard, in memory of the action with L'lmmorta-
tite, on the 20th of October, 1798 ; the boarding expeditions at
the Saintes, Penmarcks, Quimper, Noirmoutier, St. Matthew,
St Andero, and Corunna, in which he served as a volunteer,
and bore so distinguished a part."

This gallant officer was rewarded by the adjutancy at the
Plymouth division, where he was highly respected and esteemed
by his brother-officers.

vol. i. u

290 EXPEDITION TO EGYFT.

On the 31st of January a squadron, consisting of the Fou-
droyant of 80 guns, Kent, Ajax, Minotaur, Northumberland,
Tigre, and Swiftsure, with a fleet amounting to above sixty sail
of vessels, conveying an army of 16,000 men under general sir
Ralph Abercromby, anchored in Marmorice bay. On the 1st
of February the expedition arrived in sight of Alexandria, and
on the 2nd anchored in Aboukir bay. A succession of strong
northerly gales, attended by a heavy swell, set in, and lasted
until the evening of the 7th ; when the weather becoming mode-
rate, preparations were made for landing the troops. At this
time, according to the returns in the Moniteur, the french force
in Egypt amounted to 21,000 fighting men; and there were
also about 900 sick, 1000 sailors, 4 or 500 greek auxiliaries,
with perhaps 1200 persons in civil employments ; and the whole
was under the command of general Abdallah Jacques Menou.

At 2 a.m. on the 8th, the british troops began embarking,
and at 9 a.m. the signal was made for the boats to advance
towards the shore, which operation was promptly accomplished
under the respective captains and agents of transports ; while
the launches, containing the field artillery, as well as the de-
tachment of seamen to co-operate with the army, was under the
immediate direction of sir William Sidney Smith, assisted by
several other officers.

The whole line moved forward under the direction of the
honourable captain Cochrane, flanked by the smaller vessels;
and the landing was covered by the Tartarus and Fury bombs,
while the Peterel, Minorca, and Cameleon were moored as near
as possible to the shore. The british force, amounting altoge-
ther to about 700 men, was opposed by the whole garrison of
Alexandria, consisting of 1500 infantry and 180 cavalry, exclu-
sive of several detachments from Rosetta and other places;
forming a total of at least 2,500 men, under the command of
general Friant, who had stationed a part of his men with 15
pieces of artillery upon an almost inaccessible hill, which com-
manded the whole space of debarkation ; while others, with field

MARINE BATTALION. 291

pieces and mortars, were placed in such positions as the ground
afforded. As the boats arrived near the shore, a heavy fire of
grape and musketry was opened from behind the sand-hills, and
the castle of Aboukir maintained a constant discharge of shot
and shells on their right flank ; but despite of all opposition
the beach was attained, and the troops, having steadily formed,
immediately advanced and compelled the enemy to relinquish
all his advantageous positions. The boats returned without
delay, and before the evening of the 9th the whole army, with
a proportion of stores and provisions, was landed.

The brigade of seamen, amounting to about 1000 men, com-
manded by sir William Sidney Smith, landed with the army ;
their duty was to drag the cannon up the heights, — a service
they performed with their usual alacrity and determination, and
in which they sustained a loss of 22 killed ; 3 lieutenants, 4 mid-
shipmen, and 63 wounded. The army on the same occasion
had 4 officers, 4 Serjeants, and 94 rank and file killed ; 26 offi-
cers, 34 Serjeants, 5 drummers, 450 rank and file wounded :
making a total of 124 killed, 585 wounded, and 38 missing.
On the 12th the army moved forward and came in sight of the
French, whose force had been reinforced by 4000 men under
general Lanusse, including upwards of 1000 cavalry ; and now
amounting to about 7000 men, formed upon an advantageous
ridge, having their right on the canal of Alexandria, and their
left towards the sea.

Several detachments of marines were landed from the squa-
dron and formed into a battalion, consisting of 35 Serjeants, 32
corporals, 22 drummers, and 500 privates, under the command
of lieutenant-colonel Walter Smith, with the following officers :

Major: William Minto.

Captains : George Wolfe, Robert Torkington, and R. Roe.

Lieutenants: Paul Hussey, Thomas Mould, John Linzee Shea,
Roger P. Symons, Walter Stubbe, James Short, Edward Bailie,
Zaccheus Fayerman, Robert Stewart, Arthur Hall, Richard
Hill, and John Witts.

u 2

292 BATTLE OF THE 13TH MARCH.

Second-lieutenants : John Jewell, Richard Parry, Charles F.
Burton, George Peebles, James Jones, Alexander Murray,
Zaccheus Miller, Richard Ekenhead, George A. Mayhew,
Richard Turner, John Davenport, Thomas Hussey, Thomas
Edensor, Thomas Appleton, Thomas A. Lascelles, M. L. Crof-
ton, William Pridham, George Johns, Richard Swale, and Wil-
liam Swyer.

Adjutant: Charles Tyldesley.

After the battalion had assisted in filling bags with sand for
the batteries, they received orders to march at seven on that
morning to join the army, then about 15 miles distant, which
they effected, after much fatigue, at one on the morning of the
13th. At 5 the troops were under arms, and having made the
necessary preparations for attacking the enemy, the army ad-
vanced in two lines, in order to turn their flank ; but the French,
anticipating this movement, descended from the heights they
occupied, and at about 7 o'clock attacked the leading brigades
of both lines. The engagement becoming general, the marines
were somewhat crowded in their ranks by the regiments on
their right and left, owing to the narrowing of the peninsula on
which they acted ; and it was at this moment, in their too great
eagerness to cope with the enemy, they suffered a severe loss.
The brigade of seamen, under sir Sidney Smith, emulated the
brave troops with whom they were associated, and sustained a
loss of 1 midshipman and 5 seamen killed, and 19 wounded.
The battalion of marines had 2 lieutenants, Paul Hussey and
John Linzee Shea, with 22 rank and file killed ; 1 major, Wil-
liam Minto ; 1 captain, Robert Torkington ; 2 lieutenants, Rich-
ard Parry and George Peebles (both severely) ; 2 Serjeants, 2
drummers, and 27 rank and file wounded. Total, — 24 killed,
and 35 wounded. On the part of the army, 6 officers and 150
killed; 66 officers, 61 Serjeants, and 946 rank and file wounded.

The following appeared in public orders on the morning after
the battle : — .

GENERAL ORDERS.

293

" G. O. Uth of March, 1801.

" The commander-in-chief has the greatest satisfaction in
thanking the troops for their soldier-like and intrepid conduct
in the action of yesterday. He feels it incumbent upon him
particularly to express his most perfect satisfaction with the
steady and gallant conduct of major-general Craddock's bri-
gade, and he desires that major-general Craddock will assure
the officers and men of the 90th regiment, that their meritorious
conduct commands his admiration. To the 92nd and Dillon's
regiment an equal share of praise is due : when it has been so
well earned, the commander-in-chief has the greatest pleasure
in bestowing it.

" Sir Ralph Abercromby desires that lieutenant-colonel Smith
and the battalion of marines will accept his thanks, for their
gallant conduct in the course of the service of yesterday.

P At the request of lord Keith, that corps will march this af-
ternoon to Aboukir, and will place themselves under the com-
mand of colonel the earl of Dalhousie."

Accordingly, in the afternoon the battalion marched to
Aboukir, where it remained some time after the surrender of
that fortress, which capitulated on the 18th, after a bombard-
ment of two days. The castle mounted 10 guns and 2 heavy
mortars, and was garrisoned with 300 men, under a chef de
bataillon.

Although general Menou was officially apprized on the 4th
of March of the arrival of the british expedition in Aboukir
bay, he did not quit his head-quarters at Cairo until the 11th,
nor did he arrive at the camp, under the eastern walls of Alex-
andria, before the evening of the 18th. The reinforcements he
brought with him augmented the french force at Alexandria to
9730 men, including 1380 cavalry, with 46 pieces of cannon.
The effective force of the british army at Bedah did not exceed
10,000 men, including only 300 cavalry, with 12 pieces of move-
able artillery, and 30 pieces in the different redoubts, thrown
up to protect the encampment.

294 DEATH OF ABERCROMBY.

On the 21st, at about an hour before daylight, the French
attacked the British with great impetuosity ; but after an ob-
stinate and sanguinary contest, were repulsed with a loss of 800
killed, 200 wounded, and 400 prisoners, according to their own
account; but their loss has been estimated at 3000 in killed,
wounded, and prisoners. Among the killed were generals La-
nusse, Roize, and Baudot; and among the wounded, general
D'Estaing and several other distinguished officers.

The loss of the British was also very severe : it amounted to
10 officers and 233 killed; 60 officers and 1133 wounded, with
3 officers and 31 missing. The commander-in-chief was mor-
tally wounded by a musket-ball in the upper part of the
thigh; and major-general Moore and brigadier Hope were both
wounded in the head, but not dangerously.

The marines were at Aboukir castle at the period of the
action, but the seamen under sir Sidney Smith shared in the
battle, and sustained a loss of 1 master's mate, Mr. Krebs, and
3 seamen killed; sir Sidney himself, lieutenant Davis, and 48
seamen wounded : making the grand total in the battle of
Canopus, so named by the French, amount to 247 killed, 1243
wounded, and 34 missing.

General sir Ralph Abercromby, at his own request, was con-
veyed on board the Foudroyant, where he breathed his last on
the 28th of March. Major-general J. H. Hutchinson, who suc-
ceeded to the command of the army, thus eloquently expresses
himself on the death of the late commander-in-chief: — "Were
it permitted to a soldier to regret any one who has fallen in the
service of his country, I might be excused for lamenting him
more than any other person ; but it is some consolation to those
who tenderly loved him, that as his life was honourable, so was
his death glorious. His memory will be recorded in the annals of
his country, will be sacred to every british soldier, and embalmed
in the recollections of a grateful posterity."

On the 26th a second ottoman squadron arrived, having on
board 5000 Turks and Albanians. This made the turkish force

FURTHER OPERATIONS. 295

in Aboukir bay amount to six sail of the line, and eight frio-ates
and corvettes. On the 3rd of April the turkish troops were
landed, and with a division of 800 british, and 8 pieces of can-
non, under colonel Spencer, after a fatiguing march across the
desert, gained possession of the castle of Rosetta ; which was a
post of great importance, protecting an unmolested navigation
of the Nile, and enabling the British, by a communication with
the friendly inhabitants of the Delta, to obtain supplies and pro-
visions. On the 16th the castle of Jullien, on the banks of the
Nile, mounting 15 pieces of cannon, was attacked by a division
of british and turkish gun-boats, and on the land side by the
troops of colonel Spencer's corps; but it was not until the 19th
that the castle surrendered, after a brave resistance.

On the 15th of April the British cut the canal of Alexandria,
and let the waters of Madieh into the basin of the ancient lake
Mareotis ; which for ages past had been dry, except that a con-
siderable portion of it, at certain seasons especially, was impas-
sable, owing to the swampy nature of its bed. Although the
first rush of water from its volume and impetuosity was awfully
grand, some time elapsed before the whole area of the lake be-
came covered. When this was accomplished, the troops under
general Menou, amounting to about 6000 men, became shut up
in Alexandria, and separated from the 4000 under general La-
grange, entrenched at El- Aft, and the 5000 under general Bel-
liard in garrison at Cairo. Leaving major-general Coote in
command of the army before Alexandria, major-general Hutch-
inson arrived at Rosetta on the 26th of April, to direct in person
the operations against the French in the interior of the country;
and on the 5th of May the major-general, with the combined
British and Turks, in number about 8000, advanced towards
the position of general Lagrange at El-Aft, accompanied by the
gun-boats on the river, under the command of captain James
Stevenson.

On the 7th the french general abandoned El-Aft and retreated
towards Rahmineh, which place was attacked by the gun-boats

296

ATTACK ON ALEXANDRIA.

under captain Curry on the 9th, in which affair the British sus-
tained a loss of lieutenant Hobbes and 3 seamen killed, and 7
wounded. During the night the enemy retreated towards Cairo,
leaving in the fort 110 sick and wounded. The possession of
this important post effectually cut off all communication be-
tween Alexandria and the interior of Egypt. Owing to various
delays, the allied forces did not arrive at Embaeth, a village
distant about a mile and half from the fortress of Giseh, until
the 20th of June. On the 22nd, while preparations were making
to besiege Cairo, general Belliard sent a flag of truce to lieute-
nant-general Hutchinson, offering to capitulate upon honourable
terms : these were signed by the respective parties on the 27th,
stipulating that the french troops, amounting to 8000 effective,
1000 sick, and about 500 convalescent, should be conveyed to
a port in France.

Whilst these operations were going forward, a force of 6000
men was approaching from Bombay, under the command of
major-general Baird, which landed in Kossei'r bay on the 9th
and 14th of May. Between the 10th and 15th of June, the two
divisions of this army commenced their march across the desert
by the valley of Kuittah, and on the 30th arrived at Kenneh, on
the banks of the Nile ; but owing to the difficulty in procuring
boats to descend the river, the major-general did not effect a
junction with the army under lieutenant-general Hutchinson
until several days after the surrender of Cairo. A detachment
of 320 men, under lieutenant-colonel Lloyd of the 86th regi-
ment, which marched across the desert, a distance of above eighty
miles, reached Cairo on the 12th, after a painful and distressing
journey, in which 3 officers and 20 men perished. The last
division of the french troops, taken prisoners at Cairo and other
places, amounting to nearly 13,500 men, having by the 10th of
August sailed from the bay of Aboukir, immediate measures
were adopted for the reduction of Alexandria, which was the
last strong-hold of the French in Egypt.

On the night of the 16th, about 5000 troops, under major-

GARRISON CAPITULATES.

297

general Eyre Coote, embarked on lake Mareotis, escorted by
the flotilla of gun-boats under captain Stevenson ; and having
proceeded to a position westward of the town of Alexandria,
disembarked early on the morning of the 17th without opposi-
tion ; previous to which the French set fire to their flotilla of
eighteen gun-boats, stationed opposite to Pompey's pillar, and
protected by a battery of 3 long eighteen-pounders. After sus-
taining a combined naval and military attack, the island of
Marabou capitulated on the 21st, and on the same evening a
small squadron of the allies entered the harbour ; soon after
which the French sank several merchant vessels to impede the
further progress of the British to the eastward, having pre-
viously moved their two 64-gun ships and corvettes close up to
the town.

Four batteries on each side of the town opened upon the en-
trenched camp of the French on the morning of the 26th ; and
being pressed on all sides, general Menou, on the evening of the
27th, sent an aide-de-camp to lieutenant-general Hutchinson
requesting three days' armistice, in order to prepare a capitula-
tion : this proposal was acceded to, and on the 2nd of Septem-
ber the city of Alexandria surrendered. The garrison, consist-
ing of 8000 soldiers and 1300 sailors, were to be conveyed to
France at british expense, as had already been the case with
the garrison of Cairo. This concluding operation of the cam-
paign was effected with a loss of 13 killed and 113 wounded ;
and to the british navy, in the attack on Marabou, of 2 killed
and 2 wounded : making the total loss on the part of the British
in the egyptian campaign, of 330 killed, 1872 wounded, and 39
missing : that of the French, commencing at the disembarka-
tion of the british troops in Aboukir bay, between 3000 and
4000 men in killed alone.

The marines, as constituting a material proportion of the
strength of lord Keith's fleet, were continued on the coast, and
their duties were confined to the blockade of Alexandria, where
they might be ready to re-embark in case of emergency. They

298 PUBLIC THANKS

were withdrawn from the defence of Aboukir, and remained
attached to the brigade of major-general Coote until the 5th of
August, when, at the desire of lord Keith, they re-embarked on
board their respective ships.

The following testimonials bespeak the exemplary conduct
of the battalion in such nattering terms, that no comment, can
enhance their merit, and we therefore subjoin the official re-
port : —

" Foudroyant, Bay of Aboukir, 5th July, 1801.
Sir,

I have had much satisfaction in receiving the
commands of the lords commissioners of the Admiralty to make
known to you their lordships' approbation of your conduct, and
that of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of
the marine battalion, landed from the ships in the squadron to
co-operate with the army on the coast of Egypt ; and I have
to request that you will, with the permission of major-general
Coote, communicate the approbation which their lordships have
been pleased to express to the officers and men serving under
your command.

I have the honour to be, sir,

Your very obedient humble servant,

" Lieut.-col. Smith, (Signed) KEITH."

SfcSrcSfc:'

Previous to their embarkation, major-general Coote issued the
following : —

" Camp, near Alexandria, 3rd August, 1801.

" At the request of admiral lord Keith, it is lieutenant-general
sir John Hely Hutchinson's directions that the battalion of
marines, under your command, is to hold itself in readiness to
return on board their respective ships. I cannot, however,
suffer you to leave the division of the army, without assuring
you how perfectly satisfied I am with the attention you have
always paid to the marines. The good conduct of your corps

TO MARINE BATTALIONS. 299

whilst under my orders does them the greatest credit, and I
beg you will be so obliging as to signify the same both to your
officers and men.

I have the honour to be, &c.
" Lieut -col. Smith, EYRE COOTE."

src. src. #<'

The battalion having done duty during some time in the first
brigade under major-general Finch, that officer thus expressed
his sentiments : —

"Brigade Orders, August 5th, 1801.

" Major-general Finch, in taking leave of lieutenant-colonel
Smith and the marines under his command, requests him to ac-
cept his warmest thanks for the order, regularity, zeal, and at-
tention that have uniformly marked their conduct during the
period he had the honour of commanding the first brigade ; and
he shall be happy, on all occasions, to bear testimony to their
merit in the correct performance of their duty in every respect,
which has come under his observation."

The following flattering communication from lord Hutch-
inson, was sent to lieutenant-colonel Smith after his return
to England : —

" Jermyn-street, 28th June, 1802.
Sir,

Your sudden departure from Egypt rendered it im-
possible for me to desire that you would communicate my thanks
to the marines who served under your command during the cam-
paign. May I now beg that you will assure the officers and
men how highly sensible 1 am of their meritorious service?, and
of the zeal and exertion which ever marked their conduct. The
order and discipline preserved by the battalion does great credit
to your military character, and is equally honourable to the re-
spectable corps which you had the good fortune to command.

I have the honour to be, &c.

" Lieut.-col. Smith, HUTCHINSON,

Royal Marines." major-general."

300

FRENCH AT ALGESIRAS.

The medals conferred by the Grand Signior upon every officer
of the army, commemorative of their services during the egyp-
tian campaign, were, from some omission, withheld from the
marines ; but in consequence of a representation from lord Keith
to the earl of Elgin, at that time the british ambassador at the
ottoman Porte, these honourable marks of distinction were con-
veyed to sir Richard Bickerton, commanding the british naval
forces at Malta, who transmitted them with the following
letter : —

"Kent, at Malta, March 18M, 1803.
Sir,

I have the honour of forwarding to you some turk-
ish medals, to be distributed among the officers of marines who
served on shore, and in the squadron employed in the blockade
of Alexandria, during the egyptian campaign.

The accompanying letter and list will explain every thing ; it
therefore only remains for me to add, that I feel a pleasure in
having been made a medium in conveying what may be accept-
able to a small part of your corps ; and I should be much more
gratified if it was in my power to congratulate you on the ac-
quisition of more substantial advantages for the whole, being
every day more fully convinced of its services and utility.

I have the honour to be, sir,
" Lieut.-col. Smith, &c. &c. &c.

Royal Marines." R. BICKERTON."

On the 13th of June rear-admiral Linois, with the 80-gun
ships Formidable and Indomptable, Desaix 74, and Muiion
frigate, put to sea from Toulon, intending to proceed to Cadiz ;
but on learning that a superior force blockaded that port, the
rear-admiral, at 5 p. m. on the 4th of July, anchored his squa-
dron in front of the town of Algesiras. On the 5th rear-admiral
sir James Saumarez, commanding the british squadron before
Cadiz, having been apprized of the appearance of the french
ships off the rock of Gibraltar, immediately repaired in quest

BRITISH SQUADRON. 301

of them; and at 7 a.m. on the 6th, the Venerable, on opening
Cabrita point, discovered the french squadron, then warping
further in shore to get under the protection of the batteries
that defended the road, and moored in line a-head thus : the
Formidable, nearly abreast of the San-Jago battery, mounting
5 long eigh teen-pounders ; the Desaix about 500 yards astern,
and to the southward of the flag-ship; and the Indomptable
about the same distance astern of the Desaix : the Muiron
took her station a little within, and to the northward of the
Isla-Verda, whilst fourteen heavy guns were placed in suitable
situations to support the ships of the line.

At 8 a. m. the Venerable lay becalmed at a considerable
distance on the starboard bow of the Pompee, and shortly
afterwards the latter, followed by the Audacious, passed the
Venerable to windward. At this time, the Caesar and the two
remaining ships were upwards of three miles astern.

The following is a statement of the british squadron, with
their loss of killed and wounded, showing the names of the
officers of marines serving on board the respective ships.

Caesar, 80 guns, rear-admiral sir James Saumarez, captain Jah-
leel Brenton, 18 killed, 25 wounded. Captain James
Maxwell, first-lieutenant William Dymock, first-lieutenant
Philip Pipon, second-lieutenant Henry Grape.

Pompee, 74 guns, captain Charles Stirling, 15 killed, 69 wound-
ed. Captain Samuel Middleton, lieutenant Alexander
Anderson, lieutenant George F. Skipp.

Spencer, 74 guns, Henry D'Esterre Darby, 6 killed, 27 wound-
ed. Captain Thomas Abernethie, first-lieutenant Robert
Stevens, second-lieutenant Joseph Triscott.

Venerable, 74 guns, captain Samuel Hood, 8 killed, 25 wound-
ed. Captain John Wardlaw, second-lieutenant Walter S.
Boyd, second-lieutenant John Cockell, second-lieutenant
Alexander Smith.

Superb, 74 guns, captain Richard G. Keats, Captain Benjamin

302 SHIPS WARMLY ENGAGED.

Dickenson, first-lieutenant Charles Rosville, second-lieu-
tenant Joseph Britton, second-lieutenant W. Dorrington.
Hannibal, 74 guns, captain Solomon Ferris, 75 killed, 62
wounded. Captain John Victor, first-lieutenant William
Connolly, lieutenant James D. Williams (killed), second-
lieutenant George Dunford (wounded).
Audacious, 74 guns, captain Shuldham Peard, 8 killed, 32
wounded. Captain Martin Horlock, lieutenant Robert
Hart, second-lieutenant Nathaniel Pitts, second-lieutenant
Robert J. W. Day.

Total,— killed 130, wounded 240.
At 8 h. 30 m. a.m. the Pompee, hauling close up for the tower
of Santa Garcia and the island battery, received the fire of the
Muiron, and successively of the Indomptable, Desaix, and For-
midable ; and after firing a broadside at each of the two latter
ships, dropped her anchor close to the Formidable's starboard
bow, where she continued the action with great spirit. At 8 h.
50 m. the Audacious, and five minutes afterwards the Venerable,
baffled by the want of wind, having dropped their anchors, the
former abreast of the Indomptable, and the Venerable at a con-
siderable distance from the quarter of the Formidable, a furious
cannonade was maintained on both sides. At about 9 h. 1 5 m.
the Caesar anchored a-head of the Audacious, and after sending
a spring on board the Venerable, she opened her broadside upon
the Desaix. A few minutes afterwards, the Hannibal also got
into action, anchoring within hail, and on the starboard bow of
the Caesar. The Spencer, owing to the light winds, was far to
leeward, and could not approach much nearer than was suffi-
cient to expose her to the heavy fire of the Spanish batteries.
At 10 a. m. the Hannibal was ordered by the rear-admiral to
weigh, and take a position to rake the french admiral in order
to support the Pompee, who was then in a very critical situa-
tion. The Hannibal immediately cut her cable, and casting
herself by the spring, stood to the northward with the light air
from the west-north-west, and then tacked for the Formidable ;

HANNIBAL ON SHORE. 303

but at 11 a.m., just as she had arrived abreast of the tower of
Almirante, and was in the act of hauling closer to the shore in
order to cross the hawse of the french ship, the Hannibal took
the ground. In this situation she opened a fire upon the For-
midable with as many of her foremost guns as she could get to
bear, and the remainder were directed with evident effect upon
the tower of Almirante, the battery of San Jago, and the gun-
boats. An ineffectual effort was made to get the ship afloat,
and a boat from the Venerable and Csesar had been sent to
afford assistance; but finding every means unsuccessful, the
boats returned to their respective ships, whilst the Hannibal
continued to defend herself as she could bring her guns to bear
upon the enemy.

Soon after the Hannibal grounded, a light breeze sprang up
from the north-east, and rear-admiral Linois, to get further
from the reach of his opponents, threw out the signal for his
ships to cut, and run themselves on shore. This was imme-
diately complied with ; but the wind suddenly failing, the For-
midable brought up again with her broadside towards the
enemy : in the meanwhile the Desaix grounded upon a shoal
in front of the town, and the Indomptable upon one to the
north-east of Isla-Verda, with her larboard towards the sea.

The Csesar now made the signal for the british ships to cut,
and then wearing round the Audacious and Venerable, she
brought her broadside to bear upon the Indomptable, into
whose bows the Caesar poured a destructive fire. At a little
before noon the Audacious passed between the Csesar and In-
domptable, and shortly afterwards the fore top-mast of the
latter was shot away. The Venerable and Spencer, after cut-
ting their cables, were incapable, on account of the calm that
immediately ensued, of co-operating in the attack ; and the
Venerable's mizen top-mast was shot away just as she was in
the act of casting. The Pompee, after remaining nearly an
hour unable from her position to bring a gun to bear, had also
cut, and was now towed out of action. The Audacious and

304

RESULT OF THE CONTEST.

Csesar were also prevented, by its falling calm, from taking their
new position ; and both these ships, exposed to a heavy fire
from the guns of the island battery without the power of re-
turning a shot, were drifting upon the reef that was near it.
Thus frustrated by the unfavourable state of the weather, and
the serious opposition of the enemy's batteries and shipping,
and being prevented, by the destruction of most of the boats
and the absence of the remainder, which had gone to assist the
Pompee, from an attempt to storm the island with the marines
of the squadron, the Caesar and Audacious at 1 h. 30 m. p.m.
cut their cables; and profiting by a light breeze from the shore,
made sail on the starboard tack in company with the Venerable
and Spencer, being reluctantly compelled to leave the dismasted
and nobly-defended Hannibal as a trophy in the enemy's hands.

The loss and damage sustained by the british squadron was
very considerable: the total killed amounted to 121, 240
wounded, and 14 missing. Lieutenant James D. Williams of
the marines was killed on board the Hannibal, and Lieutenant
George Dunford wounded.

As soon as rear-admiral Linois got his ships afloat, he sent
an express to admirals Massaredo and Dumanoir at Cadiz, re-
questing them to despatch a squadron to his assistance, before
the british ships were sufficiently repaired to renew the attack.
In compliance with this solicitation, vice-admiral Moreno with
six sail of the line moved into the outer road of Cadiz on the
8th, ready to start with the land-wind on the next morning.
This movement was observed by captain Richard G. Keats,
who with the Superb 74, Thames frigate, and Pasley brig, were
watching the motions of the fleet in Cadiz. On the 9th, the
enemy's squadron put to sea, consisting of five ships of the line
and three frigates, steering towards the straits, and preceded by
the british 74, frigate, and brig.

Early in the afternoon the Pasley came crowding into
Gibraltar, with the signal flying for an enemy; and at 3 p.m.,
while the Spanish squadron was hauling round Cabrita point,

THE SQUADRON REFITTED. 305

the Superb and Thames anchored by signal in the bay of Gib-
raltar. Shortly afterwards the Spanish squadron cast anchor
in the road of Algesiras ; and qp the following morning the
St. Antoine 74 joined them from Cadiz. As it was now evident
that this reinforcement was to conduct the squadron of admiral
Linois to Cadiz, the utmost exertion was made by the men and
officers of the british squadron to get their ships ready for sea.
The Pompee was in too bad a state to admit of her being refitted
in time, her men were therefore turned over to assist in the
repairs of the other ships ; and the Caesar was in so shattered a
state, that the admiral shifted his flag to the Audacious; but
when this circumstance was made known to the crew of the
Csesar, and that unless she could be got ready in time they
were to be distributed to the effective ships, the gallant fellows
answered, with three cheers, " All hands to work, night and day,
until she is ready.'' By their extraordinary exertions, working
all day, and watch and watch by night, the ship was warped into
the mole and her masts shipped on the 8th; a new main-mast got
in on the 9th; and on the 11th their energies were, if possible,
increased by the enemy showing some symptoms of sailing.
On Sunday the 12th, at dawn of day, the enemy loosed sails ;
whilst the Caesar was still refitting in the mole, receiving stores
previous to hauling out. The wind was now fresh from the
eastward, but it was not until noon that the combined squa-
dron began to move : at 1 p. m. they were all under weigh,
and the two Spanish first-rates off Cabrita point. At this mo-
ment the Caesar was warping out of the mole, and the line wall,
mole-head, and batteries were crowded, from the dockyard to
the ragged staff, — the Caesar's band playing, " Come cheer up,
my lads, 'tis to glory we steer;" the military band of the gar-
rison answering with " Britons, strike home !" It is impossible
to describe the enthusiasm of this inspiring scene : all were
eager to participate in the glorious struggle at hand, and even
the wounded were desirous to be taken on board, to share in
the honours of the approaching conflict.

VOL. I. X

306 THE ENEMY QUIT ALGESIRAS.

The Caesar, as she passed under the stern of the Audacious in
her way out of the mole, at 3 p.m. rehoisted the flag of sir
James Saumarez, and made ^he signal for the ships to weigh
and prepare for battle. The squadron, consisting of the Caesar,
Venerable, Superb, Spencer, and Audacious of the line, Thames
32, captain A. P. Hollis, with 14-gun polacre Calpe and Por-
tuguese frigate Carlotta, were soon under sail ; and as they got
from under the lee of the rock, they formed in line a-head. At
7 h. 45 m. p.m. they wore together, and stood on the starboard
tack under easy sail. About 7 h. 50 m. the combined squadron
cleared Cabrita point, with the exception of the Hannibal, who
having top-masts for lower-masts, remained behind in tow of a
frigate; and eventually, the two latter returned to Algesiras,
leaving the following force :

SPANISH.

Real Carlos 112, Hermenegildo 112, San Fernando 96, Ar-
gonauta 80, San Augustin 74, with the Sabina frigate ; and on
board of the latter were vice-admiral Moreno, and rear-admiral
Linois.

FRENCH.

Formidable 80, Indomptable 80, St. Antoine 74, Desaix 74,
Libre and Muiron, frigates.

The british squadron bore away in chase soon after 8 p.m.,
and at 8 h. 40 m. the Superb, having been directed to go a-head
and attack the sternmost ships of the enemy, soon got sight of
them ; and at 1 1 p. m. she had so much increased her distance,
that the Caesar was the only british ship visible from her. At
11 h. 30 m. the Superb shortened sail, and when within 300
yards of the Real Carlos, opened her larboard broadside. In a
short time the Spanish three-decker was observed to be on fire,
just as her mizen top-mast had been shot away ; soon afterwards
she came suddenly to the wind, and dropped astern in great con-
fusion. The Superb then made sail, and at 1 1 h. 50 m. p. m.
brought to action the St. Antoine. After a close encounter of

VENERABLE DISMASTED. 307

thirty minutes, the french 74 ceased firing, and hailed that she
had surrendered ; but from the circumstance of the broad pen-
dant remaining flying on board of her, owing to the halliards
having been shot away, she was fired into by Caesar, Venerable,
Spencer, and Thames, as they successively arrived up.

At about fifteen minutes past midnight the Real Carlos blew
up, but not until she had fallen foul of the San Hermenegildo,
who, mistaking the Real Carlos for a british ship, had been en-
gaging her ; and in less than a quarter of an hour she also ex-
ploded. Only 300 were saved out of 2000 men composing the
crews of these Spanish ships, but the Superb had no fmther loss
than lieutenant E. Waller and 14 men wounded.

During the latter part of the night it blew very hard, and on
the 13th, at 4 a.m., the only ships in company with the Caesar
were the Venerable and Thames a-head, in chase of the french
80-gun ship Formidable on their lee bow, standing towards
the shoals of Conil, with a light air from off the land; at the
same time the Spencer was in sight, far astern of the admiral's
ship. As the Formidable had jury top-masts, the Venerable
and Thames came up with her fast, and at 5 h. 15 m. the
enemy's ship commenced firing ; soon afterwards the Thames
hauled up and raked her, but the Venerable did not open her
fire until the lapse of five or six minutes, when the baffling airs
threw the two ships broadside-to, within musket-shot of each
other. At 5 h. 30 m. the Venerable lost her mizen top-mast; and
at 6 h. 45. m. her main-mast having fallen by the board, she
dropped from alongside her opponent, who stood on her course,
keeping up a well-directed fire from her stern chasers. At 7 h.
50 m. the Venerable's fore-mast fell over the side, just as the
ship, driven by the strength of the current, struck upon the
rocky shoals of San Pedro, about twelve miles to the southward
of Cadiz ; and at 8 a.m. her mizen-mast shared the fate of the
other masts. At this time the Caesar, Audacious, and Superb
making their appearance, the Spanish admiral was induced to
haul up for Cadiz, whence the remaining ships of his squadron

x 2

308 MUTINY SUPPRESSED

arrived in safety. By great exertion trie Venerable was got
afloat and towed into Gibraltar; having sustained a loss of
her master and 17 killed, lieutenant Thomas Church and 86
wounded.

For the service rendered to the country by the prompt and
effective manner in which the combined squadron under vice-
admiral Moreno was attacked by the British under rear-admi-
ral sir James Saumarez, the officers, seamen, and marines re-
ceived the thanks of Parliament; the rear-admiral obtained
the distinction of a knight of the bath, and several naval officers
were promoted : yet no reward was extended to the marines.

On the 13th of December captain Fanshawe, of the Castor
frigate, having discovered some mutinous designs among the
seamen, ordered the marines under arms. The command was
instantly and cheerfully obeyed by lieutenant J. S. Smith, who
heading his party, drove the most determined of the disaffected
to the larboard side of the lower deck, and then seized the ring-
leaders.

At the court-martial on these deluded men, captain Western,
the president, thus addressed lieutenant Smith : " I have it in
command from this court, to express to you the high sense they
entertain of your very officer-like conduct on the evening of the
13th December, and the good and steady conduct of the party
of marines embarked under your orders. Your prompt and
spirited execution of captain Fanshawe's orders, appears to the
court to have stopped a very dangerous mutiny; and this token
of their approbation of your conduct will be transmitted to the
commander-in-chief, and inserted in the minutes of the court-
martial."

This flattering mark of approbation was much enhanced, by
the following gratifying commendation of the commander-in-
chief:

" Southampton, Fort Royal Bay, 26th December, 1801.

" Memorandum. — Whereas the members of the court-martial
on the mutineers of his Majesty's ship Castor have felt called

BY THE MARINES. 309

upon, in justice to the exemplary and meritorious conduct of

lieutenant J. S. Smith of the marines, and the party under his

command, to express their high sense of such spirited behaviour;

It is my directions that these sentiments of the court be read

on board his Majesty's ship under my orders, to testify how

fully I accord with the court in the commendation so deservedly

bestowed.

(Signed) J. T. DUCKWORTH."

A mutiny broke out on board the squadron in Bantry Bay
on the 1st of December, 1801, which continued until the 11th.
The marines remained firm to their allegiance, and it is probable
that their zealous and loyal conduct deterred the seamen from
further resistance of the commands of their officers. Six of the
ringleaders were executed on the 5th of January, 1802, and five
on the 19th of the same month.

The following letters are from the marines of two ships of the
squadron : —

" Princess Royal, Beerhaven, \2th December, 1801.
Sir,

We, the non-commissioned officers and privates
serving as marines of a detachment under your command on
board this ship, have heard with pleasure of the gallant con-
duct of our brother-soldiers on board his Majesty's ship Teme-
raire ; and therefore beg leave to express, alike with them, our
determination to oppose, with all our might and power, all
unlawful combinations, and our readiness to obey our officers

night or day.

(Signed by the whole party).

" To Lieut- Colonel Tench."

"Resolution, Bantry Bay, 15th December, 1801.
Sir,

I hope you will pardon the liberty we take in ad-
dressing you, but as we understand that some ships' companies
have disobeyed the just commands of their superior officers, and
knowing as we do the dreadful consequences that formerly at-

310 GENERAL ORDERS.

tended same practices, for our parts we abhor the idea ; and we
hope you will inform captain Gardner, likewise the admiral, that
it is our firm resolution to support and maintain our officers in
every thing which they may think proper, and which is best cal-
culated to promote the interests of our king and country.

I have the honour to subscribe myself, and in behalf of the
detachment of marines, your most obedient servant,

" Captain Forshall, WILLIAM HEANS,

„ SERJEANT.

Marine forces.

General Orders.

"The lords of the Admiralty having expressed their high
satisfaction of the good conduct of the marines of several of the
ships under my command, with those at Beerhaven, in declaring
their abhorrence of the mutinous proceedings which had lately
taken place at that anchorage, and of their having come forward
upon that occasion, so much to the honour of their corps and
the interest of their country ; I am to desire that you will be
pleased to communicate the same to them, and assure them that
1 feel highly gratified on the present occasion.

(Signed) WM. CORNWALLIS."

" To Vice-admiral Sir A. Mitchell,

src. Src. src"

" Spitkead, 29th December, 1801.

" It is my directions to the captains of his Majesty's ships
Windsor Castle, Princess Royal, Malta, Glory, Resolution, and
Vengeance, under my orders, to communicate to the marines
serving on board the respective ships under their command the
above letter from the commander-in-chief: and I feel equally
happy that their good conduct has merited such a mark of ap-
probation from him, and the lords commissioners of the Ad-

m,ralty- A. MITCHELL."

On the 1st of October preliminary articles of peace were
signed in London by lord Hawkesbury, the secretary of state

TREATY OF PEACE. 311

for foreign affairs, on the part of Great Britain, and by citizen
Louis Guillaume Otto, commissary for the exchange of prisoners
in England, on the part of France. On the 10th the negotiations
were duly exchanged, and on the 12th a proclamation was
issued by his britannic Majesty, ordering a cessation of arms.
According to the preliminary articles, five months from the
date of the exchange of ratifications was the longest period
that hostilities could legally be continued in the most distant
part of the globe.

1802.

On the 27th of March the definitive treaty was signed at
Amiens, which stipulated the restoration to France of all the
colonies taken from her, except Trinidad and Ceylon. Egypt
was restored to the Porte : the islands of Malta, Goza, and
Comino were to be restored to the order of Jerusalem, as before
the war; and the british troops were to quit those islands within
three months after the exchange of the ratification. The french
troops were to evacuate Naples and the roman territory ; and the
British, in like manner, to quit Ferrajo, as well as all the islands
in the Mediterranean and Adriatic. The Cape of Good Hope
and various other important colonies were restored to Holland ;
and Denmark, as well as Sweden, regained their foreign pos-
sessions.

The distinguished services of the marines, and their unshaken
loyalty, had frequently obtained for them the public expression
of their country's gratitude; but no particular mark of the royal
favour was extended to the corps, until the 29th of April, 1802,
when the following gratifying communication was conveyed to
their commandant by the earl of St. Vincent : —

"Admiralty Office, 29th April, 1802.
Sir,

The earl of St. Vincent having signified to my lords

commissioners of the Admiralty, that his Majesty, in order to
mark his royal approbation of the very meritorious conduct of
the corps of marines during the late war, has been graciously

312 STYLED "ROYAL MARINES."

pleased to direct that in future the corps shall be styled the
*' Royal Marines ;'

I have great satisfaction in obeying their lordships' com-
mands to communicate this intelligence to you ; and in offering
their lordships' congratulations on this testimony of the opinion
his Majesty entertains of the very distinguished services of that
part of his forces to which you belong.

I am, sir, &c. &c.
(Signed) EVAN NEPEAN."

" Lieutenant-general Sonter Johnstone,

Commandant of the Marines."

The unsettled state of affairs in Europe induced the british
government to keep up a large peace establishment, and conse-
quently the marines retained 100 companies, making a total
force of 12,119 men. Six field-officers, eight captains, one cap-
tain-lieutenant, three first-lieutenants, and three second-lieute-
nants, were allowed to retire ; and the retired establishment
was made an open list.

The detachment of marines under the command of captain
Johnstone, serving on board the 80-gun ship Gibraltar in the
Mediterranean, was distinguished for its firmness in suppressing
a mutiny. Two of the ringleaders were hung by sentence of
a court-martial.

The following order was issued by the commander-in-chief: —

"Kent, Oristagni Bay, 4th November, 1802.
" Memorandum. — Whereas, it appears in the minutes of the
late court-martial on the mutineers of the Gibraltar, that the
detachment of marines serving on board that ship bore no part
in the disgraceful proceedings of the 6th of October last ; but,
much to the credit of the officers and themselves, maintained
the character of the loyal and respectable corps to which they
belong, by a steady adherence to their duty ; the rear-admiral
takes this public method of expressing his approbation of their

THEIR LOYALTY APPLAUDED. 313

good and soldier-like conduct, and requests captain Johnstone
to accept his thanks.

(Signed) RICHARD BICKERTON."

" To the respective Captains."

A similar instance of insubordination occurred on board the
74-gun ship Excellent, in the West Indies, which was subdued
by the firmness and discipline of the marines, whose fidelity
obtained the following commendation from commodore Hood :

"Blenheim, Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes,30th Dec. 1802.

" Memorandum. — The commander-in-chief had flattered him-
self in the hope, that all those ill-disposed acts of mutinous con-
duct were at an end in the royal navy, and that the seamen
would endeavour to heighten their characters in the eyes of the
rest of his Majesty's subjects ; but he trusts the punishment he
has been obliged to order to be carried into execution on those
unfortunate men, may be sufficient example to deter a few evil-
minded persons from disturbing the repose and good order
amongst the seamen in future.

" The commander-in-chief, (as well as the members of the
court-martial), are highly sensible of the active exertions of the
officers of his Majesty's ship Excellent in quelling the late
mutiny on board her, and also the officers, non-commissioned
officers, and private marines belonging to the said ship; who
by their firmness in resisting the attempt to seduce them from
their duty, and in opposing men in actual mutiny, have increas-
ed, if possible, the high character the corps has so justly ac-
quired ; and he begs to assure the whole of them, they have his
best thanks, and he will not fail to represent their meritorious
conduct to the lords commissioners of the Admiralty.

(Signed) SAMUEL HOOD."

" To Captain Maxwell,

Blenheim."
A detachment of 40 men, under lieutenant O'Neal, from the
74-gun ship Magnificent, disembarked on the 10th of April on

314 PEACE OF AMIENS.

the island of Dominica, to assist in quelling an insurrection in
the 8th West India regiment. This small party took post on a
hill, and although opposed by a body of above 400 men, they
maintained their position until reinforced by 25 men, under
lieutenants Lambert and Hawkins ; and then, with the assist-
ance of some colonial militia, they succeeded in rescuing seve-
ral officers from the hands of the mutineers. On the following
day the marines marched to Grand-Ance, and uniting with de-
tachments of the Royal Scotch and 68th regiments, they entered
the fort of Sirley on the 13th, and forming in front of the black
corps, the latter, on being desired, grounded their arms; but
when commanded to advance, they resumed their arms, which
they instantly discharged. The detachment returned the fire,
and then drove the mutineers with the bayonet, who, retreating
up the Outer Cabaret, became exposed to a discharge of grape
from the Magnificent. On the return of the detachment to
Martinique, they received the thanks of general Johnstone, and
of the presidency of Dominique.

1803.

The peace of Amiens was so unpopular to both nations, that
it was generally expected to be but of short duration : warlike
preparations continued to increase with such activity, that it
gave to the treaty the character of a truce or suspension of
arms, in which both parties were striving to gain an advan-
tageous position on a renewal of hostilities. Squadrons were
preparing in the ports of France, Holland, and Spain ; and a
british fleet was in readiness to watch and follow their move-
ments. France had long been desirous to gain possession of
Malta, or to have that island placed under the protection of
a power favourable to her interests ; but England, in order to
counteract that design, stipulated that this important island
should be guaranteed by Great Britain, France, Austria, Russia,
and Spain, and not under the protection of Russia alone. It
was no longer concealed that Buonaparte's intentions were to

minerve captured. 315

occupy Egypt and the Ionian islands; and the augmentation
of the french military establishments gave a clear indication of
these warlike proceedings.

Negotiations were opened with a desire to remove the diffi-
culties in the way of a continuance of peace ; but the unfavour-
able aspect of affairs produced a message from his Majesty to
Parliament, stating that the preparations in the ports of France
rendered it necessary to increase our armaments by sea and
land, although the french government protested that it had no
other view in these preparations, beyond subduing their own
revolted colony of San Domingo.

In the ultimatum submitted by Great Britain, it was pro-
posed to retain Malta for ten years, but France contended it
should be ceded to Russia : lord Whitworth consequently left
Paris, and war was declared against France by his britannic
Majesty on the 18th of May, 1803;

On the night of the 27th of June, two boats from the 38-gun
frigate Loire, captain F. L. Maitland, under the orders of lieute-
nant Francis Temple, attacked the french national brig Venteux
of 10 guns, anchored close under the batteries of the Isle of
Bas. Although fully prepared for the assault, she was gallantly
boarded, and after a defence of ten minutes, carried and brought
out, with the loss on the part of the British of 5 seamen and
1 marine wounded.

On the 2nd of July, in the evening, the 38-gun frigate Mi-
nerve, captain Jahleel Brenton, being close in with the harbour
of Cherbourg in a thick fog, grounded on the western cone-
head, and became exposed to the fire of two batteries, mounting
together 170 guns and 40 mortars. After great exertion, the
Minerve was got afloat at 4 a.m. on the 3rd, and would soon
have been out of gun-shot, when it unfortunately fell calm ; and
the last of the flood carrying the now helpless ship into the
harbour, laid her upon a broken cone, where she remained until
the top of high water, and then surrendered, having sustained a
loss of 11 men killed and 16 wounded.

316 LIEUTENANT NICOLL8

On the 4th of July, in the evening, lieutenant Robert Irwin
of the marines assisted in the boats of the Naiad frigate, under
the orders of lieutenant William Dean, in an attack and cap-
ture of the french national schooner Providence, mounting 2
guns, with a crew of 22 men, moored among the rocks and
shoals of the Saintes.

The 36-gun frigate Blanche, captain Z. Mudge, was lying an-
chored in Manunille bay, in St. Domingo, on the 3rd of Novem-
ber, when the french cutter Albion, having a crew of 43 men
and officers, was discovered close to the battery of Monte
Christe, mounting 4 long twenty-four pounders and 3 field-
pieces. During the day three boats, under the orders of lieu-
tenant Braithwaite, proceeded to attempt the capture of this
vessel ; but owing to the breeze blowing right on shore, the en-
terprise was abandoned. A night attack was then resolved up-
on, and lieutenant Edward Nicolls of the marines volunteered
to cut her out in a single boat. On the evening of the 4th that
officer, accompanied by 12 men in the ship's cutter, pushed off
from the frigate; but was shortly followed by the barge with
22 men, commanded by lieutenant the honourable Warwick
Lake. Lieutenant Nicolls soon afterwards pointed out the ob-
ject of their pursuit to lieutenant Lake ; but the latter, consider-
ing that the french cutter lay on the opposite or north-east side
of the bay, proceeded in that direction, leaving the other boat
to watch the vessel that had been discovered. At about 2 h.
30 m. a. m. on the 5th, lieutenant Nicolls pulled cautiously to-
wards the cutter, whose crew expecting a second attack, had
made preparations to meet it. On arriving within pistol-shot,
and being hailed by the cutter, the British gave three hearty
cheers and dashed at her, receiving in quick succession two
volleys of musketry, — the second discharge wounding the cox-
swain severely, the man at the bow oar, and a marine ; but
before the enemy could fire a third time, lieutenant Nicolls,
at the head of his little party, sprang on board of her. The
ball of the french captain's pistol entered the lieutenant's side,

AT ST. DOMINGO. 317

then passing under the skin, lodged in the fleshy part of his
opposite arm ; and almost at the same moment the captain was
killed, either by the pistol of lieutenant Nicolls, or by a marine
standing near him. The crew were then driven below, after
very little further resistance, with the loss, besides their captain
killed, of 5 men wounded.

As yet the battery had not fired a shot, although only 100
yards distant from the cutter ; for as the marines continued to
fire their muskets while the seamen were getting the vessel
under weigh, the enemy believed the Albion was still resisting.
But lieutenant Lake arriving at the moment the jib was hauled
for casting, he ordered the musketry to be discontinued ; where-
upon the battery opened a fire of round and grape, which killed
2 of the Blanche's seamen. However, as there was a favourable
breeze, the cutter, with the two boats towing her, soon ran out
of gun-shot, without incurring any further loss.

It can scarcely be credited that the captain of the Blanche
should purposely detract from the merit of lieutenant Nicolls,
by not only omitting the name of that officer in the report of
wounded, but even the credit of the gallant capture of the cut-
ter is attributed to the joint attack under lieutenant Lake, who
certainly did not take part in the fight, nor did he arrive on
board the prize until she was under way. Captain Mudge in
his official letter, says : " At 2 this morning the enemy's cutter
was masterly and gallantly attacked by lieutenant Lake in the
cutter, and lieutenant Nicolls of the marines in the barge, who
cut her out. She is 92 tons burthen, coppered close up and fas-
tened ; having 2 four-pounders, 6 swivels, and 20 muskets. The
affair cost me 2 men killed, aud 2 wounded."

From this report it would be impossible to infer that the " two
men wounded," included a commissioned officer; but lieutenant
Nicolls, although omitted by his captain, was honoured by a
sword of the value of £30 from the Patriotic Fund, for having
commanded one of the boats; whilst lieutenant Lake, for his
gallantry, obtained one of £50 ! Another quarter, equally de-

318 MARINES AT MARTINIQUE.

ceived, promoted lieutenant Lake, but paid no attention to the
claims of the officer who so nobly executed the service he had
gallantly undertaken.

On the 16th of November a detachment from the Blenheim
74, consisting of 71 seamen, under lieutenants Thomas Cole and
Thomas Furber, with 60 marines under lieutenants George
Beatty and Walter S. Boyd, and the whole under the orders of
captain Ferris of the Drake sloop, proceeded at 11 p.m. to at-
tempt the capture of the Harmonie, french privateer, mounting
8 carriage guns, with a crew of 66 men, in the harbour of Ma-
rin, island of Martinique. It was arranged, that while the sea-
men attacked the privateer, the marines were to surprise, or at
all events to storm Fort Dunkirk, a battery of nine guns, situ-
ated on the starboard side of the harbour, and the possession of
which was necessary, to prevent the island militia from collecting
on Marin point, whence they could have greatly annoyed the
boats on their return. By judiciously timing their departure
from the ship, both parties arrived at the same instant at their
respective destinations. The marines surprised the fort, and
took 15 prisoners, and having dismounted and spiked the guns,
they destroyed the carriages and blew up the magazine. But
lieutenant Beatty humanely spared the barracks ; for had they
been set on fire, a large and ripe field of canes would have been
destroyed. The seamen had 1 killed and 5 wounded.

On the 26th of November captain Acheson Crozier and lieu-
tenant Walker, with the detachment of marines, were landed
from the 74-gun ship Centaur, at the Petite Ance d'Arlette,
Martinique, and carried a battery mounting 6 twenty-four
pounders, which they destroyed, and threw the guns over the
precipice. In exploding the magazine, one man was killed ;
captain Crozier, lieutenant Walker, and 6 men wounded.

Lieutenant McLauglan, of the marines of the Centaur, assisted
at the destruction of a battery of 3 guns on the Pointe d'Arlette,
between Grande and Petite Ance.

319

CHAPTER VIII.

From January 1804, to October 1805.

In the early part of the year 1804, a considerable military force
assembled on the french coast, and the preparations for in-
vading England were continued with the greatest activity, in
the construction of 2000 prames, gun-vessels, and flat-bottomed
boats, to convey the army across the Channel. Almost every
department of the nation voted a ship of the line, each of the
larger villages a frigate, and every commune gave its prame,
gun-vessel, peniche, or flat-bottomed boat. Vessels for the
flotilla were constructing, not only in all the naval ports and
in the small harbours along the coast, but upon the banks of
every river. Even Paris became for a time a maritime arsenal :
two slips were erected there, and many vessels of the smaller
kind were launched on that part of the Seine. At Antwerp,
for the first time during a great many years, the keels of ships
of the line were laid down ; and at Brest, l'Orient, Rochefort,
and Toulon, several ships of force and magnitude were ordered
to be built. The ports of reunion of the flotilla were seven :
Ostend, Dunkerque, Calais, Ambleteuse, Vimereux, Boulogne,
and Etaples; and Boulogne, being only twelve leagues from
the low land between Dover and Hastings, was made the
main depot. This port, until the projected invasion, possessed
an insignificant harbour, formed by the estuary of a small river
which was nearly dry at low water, having only one quay ; but
in a short time both banks of the river were lined with quays,
moles were constructed, a capacious basin formed, and a bridge
thrown across the river; and the water being confined by means
of a dam, vessels were kept constantly afloat. Immense bat-

320 ATTACK OF CURA^OA.

teries were erected on all the commanding points, and a strong-
line of heavy gun-vessels moored across the road, which from
the numerous shoals and sand-banks was difficult of approach :
the tides, too, which cross each other in an extraordinary man-
ner, were very serious obstacles in the way of a bombarding
force. Corresponding exertions were making on the british
coast : a number of small vessels, each armed with one or two
heavy long guns, were stationed at the Nore, and at all the
most assailable parts of the shore; as were also several large
ships, mounted with heavy carronades. Martello towers were
erected along the coast, and a large army, composed of regulars,
militia, and volunteers, was ready to meet the enemy, should
he venture to place foot on english ground. In the Channel,
and all along the french coast, our cruisers were constantly on
the watch, ready to fall upon the divisions of the flotilla when
they showed themselves outside the sands and batteries by
which they were protected ; and scarcely a day passed without
some skirmish, either with the vessels under the protection of
their numerous batteries, or by encounters with the flotilla.

On the 15th of January captain John Bligh, of the 74-gun
ship Theseus, was ordered by sir John Duckworth to proceed
from Port Royal, St. Domingo, and summons the garrison of
Curacoa, taking with him the 74 gun-ship Hercule, frigates
Blanche and Pique, and Gipsy schooner. Owing to calms
and variable winds, this squadron did not reach the island of
Curagoa until the 31st, when a summons was sent to the go-
vernor, who peremptorily refused the terms. The passage into
the harbour is so narrow, that even with a fair wind, a line of
battle ship can enter with difficulty ; and the batteries, mount-
ing nearly 100 pieces of cannon, entirely command the entrance.
Under these circumstances, no alternative remained but to try
the effect of a landing. Captain Bligh therefore bore up with
two seventy-fours for an eligible spot where the disembarkation
might be effected, leaving the two frigates to cause a diversion
of the enemy's force, and to blockade the harbour. According

A LANDING EFFECTED. 321

to a previous arrangement, the boats of the squadron, all the
marines of the four ships, amounting to 199, including lieu-
tenants Edward Nicolls (senioiyDfficer), William Henry Craig,
Samuel Perrot, Earle Harwood, and Bertrand Cahuac, had
assembled on board the Hercule, with a detachment of 406
seamen; numbering together 605 officers and men, under the
order of captain Richard D. Dunn.

Fort Amsterdam, situated on the south-east side of the en-
trance to St. Ann, fired at the ships as they passed, but the
shot fell short. At 1 1 h. 30 m. Fort Piscadero, mounting 10
twelve-pounders, and protecting the intended point of disem-
barkation, opened a fire, which was returned by the Theseus
within half musket-shot; who, making short tacks, so effectu-
ally silenced the enemy, that at 1 p. m. the first division of
seamen and marines landed, stormed the fort without sustain-
ing any loss, and struck the dutch colours. They then by a
rapid movement gained the heights, and with the loss of only
four or five killed drove the dutch soldiers from the position :
by this time, the remainder of the detachment had landed with-
out opposition.

On the morning of the 13th of February, 2 eighteen-pounder
carronades and a field-piece were landed from the Theseus, and
with great difficulty and danger were dragged four miles to the
advanced position on the height, situated about 800 yards to
the westward of the town of St. Ann, which it in part overlook-
ed; and this post was placed under the command of lieutenant
N. J. Willoughby, while the position between it and the place
of disembarkation was under the orders of lieutenant J. B. Hills.
On the 2nd, 2 long eighteen-pounders and 1 twelve-pounder
were placed in " Willoughby's battery;" but in effecting this,
some loss was sustained from the heavy fire kept up by Fort
Republique. Four eighteen-pounder carronades and another
field-piece having been landed and mounted at the outposts,
a constant interchange of firing was kept up between the bri-
tish and dutch batteries.

VOL. I. Y

322

BRITISH RE-EMBARK.

A smart skirmish took place between our advanced post and
the enemy's sharp-shooters on the evening of the 4th, when the
latter were repulsed ; and on tb* morning of the 5th there was
a serious affair between the marines under lieutenant Nicolls,
and a force of Dutch and French amounting to 500 men.
Notwithstanding the inferiority of the British, lieutenant Ni-
colls in the most gallant manner engaged the allied forces, and
drove them under the guns of Fort Republique, from whose
destructive fire, the marines sustained a loss of 20 in killed
and wounded. On the 6th the cannonade was resumed on
both sides, and the town partially set on fire. Many successive
days were passed in this way, the british force decreasing,
not only by the encounters with the enemy and the cannon of
their heavy batteries, but from fatigue and sickness, 63 men
had been embarked on account of dysentery. Thus circum-
stanced, and learning that the Dutch had already received a
reinforcement, Captain Bligh determined on withdrawing the
whole of his force; and at 11 p.m. on the 25th the detachment
safely arrived on board the vessels appointed to receive them,
having previously destroyed Fort Piscadero.

The loss of the British, in the different skirmishes with the
enemy, amounted to 1 midshipman, 8 seamen, 2 Serjeants, and
7 privates of marines killed ; lieutenants Harewood, Cahuac,
and Perrot (the latter with the loss of an arm), 16 seamen,
2 Serjeants, and 21 privates of marines, wounded. Total, — 18
killed, and 42 wounded.

On the 11th of July, at 10 p.m., three boats of the 32-gun
frigate Narcissus, three of the 38-gun frigate Seahorse, and four
of the 32-gun frigate Maidstone, under the orders of lieutenant
Thompson, assisted by several officers, and among that number
lieutenant William Wiltshire of the marines, proceeded to the
attack of twelve settees lying at La Vaudour, in the bay of
Hyeres, distant between four and five miles from the ships.
The enemy's vessels were moored head and stern close to the
beach, to which they were also completely secured, and covered

ATTACK OF LA VAUDOUR. 323

by a battery of three guns. About midnight the settees were
boarded under a tremendous fire of grape and musketry, as
well from the vessels as from the batteries and the houses of
the town: most of them were set fire to, and only one was
brought off.

This gallant attack was unfortunately attended with severe
loss : lieutenant William Wiltshire of the marines, 1 midship-
man, and 2 seamen, were killed ; 1 lieutenant, 1 master's mate,
3 midshipmen, 15 seamen, and 3 marines wounded. We can-
not refrain from an expression of astonishment, that in neither
the letter of lieutenant Thompson to captain Donnelly, nor in
the latter's official report, is there any mention of the officer of
marines who gallantly fell in this enterprise ; and but for the
surgeon's return of the casualties, we should have been denied
the opportunity of recording the name of lieutenant Wiltshire.

In the latter part of September, the A casta frigate, captain
Atholl Wood, was attached to the Channel fleet, and on re-
gaining her station off the Black Rockp, after a heavy gale from
the eastward, reconnoitred the french fleet lying in Brest har-
bour. Finding that five ships of the line had disappeared since
the frigate's last visit, it became a matter of speculation to ac-
count for the departure of the french squadron; and as a means
of ascertaining the cause of their absence, lieutenant Thomas
Peebles of the marines suggested the following scheme, which
that officer carried into execution on the same evening. Soon
after dark, the Acasta stood pretty close to the shore; and early
on the following morning the lieutenant, with six marines in
one of the cutters, and accompanied by Mr. Hemet, the master,
put off from the frigate, directing their course for the point
of Bertheaume, where it will be recollected there is a strong
fort situated on a rock, and connected with the main land by
a wooden bridge. Under this bridge the fishing-boats from
Brest were accustomed to assemble during the night, in readi-
ness to pursue their occupation on the following morning. It
was just daylight when the cutter arrived near the rock, and

y 2

324 g£n£ral ernouf.

immediately gaining possession of a fishing-boat, and taking a
man out of two others, she was brought off, unobserved by the
sentries in the fort directly over their heads. On reaching the
Acasta, the fishermen were separately examined, and as they
concurred in their statement that the missing ships had moved
into the inner harbour, the Frenchmen, after being well regaled,
were allowed to proceed to Brest in their own boat.

On the 13th of August the 32-gun frigate Galatea, captain
Henry Heathcote, having discovered the late british sloop Lily
(now the General Ernouf), refitting as a french privateer near
Anse a. Mire in the Saintes' islands, and lying anchored near
a french privateer-schooner; four boats, under the orders of lieu-
tenant Hayman, assisted by several officers, including lieutenant
Robert Hall of the marines, were sent to attempt her capture.
At 10 p.m. the detachment left the Galatea, and pulled towards
the harbour under cover of the night ; but the enemy had placed
a guard-boat in advance, which gave an intimation of their ap-
proach, and consequently they were fully prepared to receive
the attack. About 1 a.m. on the 14th, lieutenant Hayman in
the barge, leading the party, was nearly alongside the Lily,
when the firing commenced : heedless of this reception the
boats dashed alongside, and in the dreadful conflict which en-
sued, lieutenant Hayman fell mortally wounded ; and only 3 out
of the 26 men and officers in the barge were left free from dan-
gerous wounds. The three other boats tried in vain to over-
come the numerous and still increasing force opposed to them ;
and after sustaining a fire for nearly an hour, they were com-
pelled to abandon the enterprise, leaving the barge to her fate.
On their return, they were exposed to a very destructive fire
from the batteries, which continued until 3 h. 30 m. a. m. ; and
just as the day dawned the miserable remnant of the expedition
reached the frigate. Out of the 90 officers and men who quitted
the Galatea, not more than twenty returned unhurt : besides
lieutenant Hayman, Mr. Michael Birbeck, the master, and Mr.
Wall, midshipman, were among the killed ; and lieutenant Ro-

CENTURION AND MARENGO. 325

bert Hall of the marines, who lost an arm, was made prisoner.
The total loss on this occasion amounted to 65 in killed and
wounded : it would be difficult to state the loss of the enemy,
but they acknowledge having had four men killed.

On the 15th of September the 50-gun ship Centurion, when
lying in Vizagapatam roads, at 10 a.m. was attacked by the
french 74-gun ship Marengo and two 40-gun frigates, who,
after an action of thirty minutes, hauled off to seaward ; but at
11 h. 15 m. the Marengo and her consorts were again seen ap-
proaching, and the 74 having anchored about a mile from the
Centurion, recommenced the cannonade, supported occasionally
by the Atalante, under sail upon the quarter of the british ship.
At 1 h. 15 m. a shot cut the cable of the Centurion, and about
the same time the 74 made sail, accompanied by the frigates,
and taking with them the Princess Charlotte indiaman. The
Centurion also got under weigh, and continued her fire until
the enemy was out of gun-shot, having 9 men wounded. Cap-
tain Lind, in his official letter, expresses himself much indebted
to the zeal and energy of lieutenant Waring of the marines.

Intelligence having reached the ministry that an armament
was fitting out at Ferrol, and that french troops were on
their way thither, the Admiralty despatched a squadron of
four frigates, under captain Graham Moore, to intercept four
laden frigates, having treasure on board, from Monte Video,
bound to Cadiz. On the 5th of October the squadrons met off
Cape St. Mary's, and the Spanish rear-admiral refusing to be
detained and conducted into an english port, an action ensued ;
during which one of their frigates exploded, and the other three
surrendered, with a loss of 13 killed, and 80 wounded. The
english squadron had 2 men killed, and 80 wounded.

That the british government had any right to detain this
squadron was more than doubtful, even to those who concurred
in the expediency of the measure ; but when the alternative was
determined upon, it would have been only considerate to have
sent a more formidable force to execute the service, in order to

32G

SAN FIORENZO AND PSYCHE.

have justified the Spanish admiral in surrendering without an
appeal to arms. This act of aggression produced an order from
the court of Madrid on the 27th of November to make reprisals
on english property; but it was not until the 12th of Decem-
ber that the king of Spain issued his formal declaration of war,
nor until the 12th of January that Great Britain directed letters
of marque to be granted against Spanish vessels and property.

1805.

Scarcely had the declaration of war been issued by the court
of Madrid, than France began to put in requisition the fleets
and armies of her new ally. On the 4th of January, three days
actually before the Spanish declaration reached London, a secret
treaty between the two courts was signed at Paris, by vice-ad-
miral Decres on behalf of France, and by vice-admiral Gravina
on the part of Spain. The first article contains a display of the
force at the french emperor's disposal, describing the respective
flotillas at Ostend, Dunkerque, Calais, Boulogne, and Havre as
collectively capable of embarking 120,000 men, and 25,000
horses; whilst in the united ports of Brest, Rochefort, and
Toulon, there were thirty-eight sail of the line affording a
grand total of 188,000 men. On the part of Spain, she was to
furnish twenty-nine ships of the line, and to have from 4000 to
5000 troops ready to embark at Cadiz, in conjunction with
20,000 french infantry.

The british government took immediate measures for the in-
crease of every branch of our force ; and the number of seamen
voted for this year, was 120,000, including 30,000 marines.

On the 13th of February the 36-gun frigate San Fiorenzo,
captain Henry Lambert, near Vizagapatam fell in with the
french 32-gun frigate Psyche, having in her company two cap-
tured british vessels. After a long chase, the San Fiorenzo was
enabled to bring the french frigate to action at 8 p.m. on the
14th, which continued with great fury on both sides until 9 p.m.,
when the Psyche fell on board her antagonist ; but in about a

CLEOPATRA AND VILLA DE MILAN. 327

quarter of an hour the ships got clear, and the cannonade re-
commenced. The french frigate's main-yard was shot away
at 9 h. 40 m., but the firing continued with unabated fury until
11 h. 30 m. p.m., when the San Fiorenzo hauled off to reeve
new braces, and repair her rigging. At midnight the latter bore
up to renew the conflict, and just as she was about to open her
broadside, a boat came on board from the Psyche, announcing
her surrender. The San Fiorenzo, out of a crew of 253 men and
boys, had 12 killed and 36 wounded ; among the latter, lieute-
nant Samuel Ashmore of the marines. The Psyche had three
lieutenants and 54 men killed, and 70 wounded, out of a crew
of 240 men. The heroic defence of a ship of such inferior force
during a close action of more than three hours, reflected the
greatest credit on the gallant captain Bergeret ; and every
Frenchman who is proud of his country's glory, should hold in
honourable recollection the determined resistance of the Psyche.
On the 16th of February, at day-break, the 32-gun frigate
Cleopatra, captain sir Robert Laurie, when in latitude 28° north,
longitude 27° west, went in chase of the french 40-gun frigate
Ville de Milan : both ships were under all sail, and the pursuit
continued through the night. At day-break on the 17th they
were only four miles apart, the Cleopatra still gaining on the
enemy. At 10 h. 30m. the Ville de Milan took in her studding-
sails and hauled more up ; and after some manoeuvre on the part
of the french ship to get the weather-gage, a running fight was
maintained until 2h. 30 m. p.m., when just as the Cleopatra
had arrived within a hundred yards of her opponent, the latter
luffed close to the wind and discharged her broadside, which
was repeated before the british frigate returned the fire : a
warm action then ensued, which continued with great spirit,
both ships steering free. At 5 p.m. the main top-sail yard of
the Ville de Milan was shot away, and the Cleopatra, being
so much disabled as to be incapable of shortening sail, ranged
a-head ; captain Laurie therefore prepared to cross the bows of
his adversary, but just at that moment a shot struck the wheel

328 CAPTURE OF TAPE A BORD.

of the Cleopatra, and rendered the rudder ungovernable. Avail-
ing herself of the helpless condition of her opponent, the Ville
de Milan bore up and gave her the stem, running her head and
bowsprit over the latter's quarter-deck, just abaft the main
rigging ; and covered by a heavy fire of musketry the french
crew attempted to board, but were repulsed. The Cleopatra
was now incapable of further resistance, and in a second at-
tempt the French boarded and took possession of their gallantly
defended antagonist. Almost immediately afterwards, the Cleo-
patra's fore and main-masts went over the side, and her bow-
sprit soon followed. Out of a crew of 200 men and boys, she
had 22 killed and 36 wounded, including among the latter lieu-
tenant Thomas Appleton of the marines. The Ville de Milan,
out of a crew of 350, had 1 0 men killed and several severely
wounded.

After refitting the captured ship, the Ville de Milan with her
prize, continued her route towards a french port ; and on the
23rd, at noon, they were discovered and chased by the 50-gun
ship Leander, captain John Talbot. About 3 p. m. the two fri-
gates closed for mutual support, but on the arrival of the Lean-
der within gun-shot, they separated, — the Cleopatra running
before the wind, and the Milan with the wind on the star-
board quarter. At 4h. 30 m. the Cleopatra, on receiving a shot
from the Leander, hauled down her colours, and was imme-
diately taken possession of by her original crew. Observing
this, the Leander made sail after the Ville de Milan, and at
5h. 30 m. having arrived alongside, the french ship surrendered
without firing a gun.

On the 6th of May, in the morning, the 32-gun frigate
Unicorn, when about nine leagues to the northward of Cape
Francois, St. Domingo, discovered the french cutter Tape-a-
bord, of 4 long six-pounders, and 46 men. The prevailing calm
rendering a chase by the ship impracticable, captain Hardyman
despatched four boats under the command of lieutenant Henry
Smith Wilson, assisted by several officers, and among that

LOIRE AT CAMARINAS. 329

number lieutenant Walter Powell of the marines. After a pull
of several hours the boats reached the cutter, and, under a
heavy fire of great guns and musketry, boarded and carried her
without the slightest casualty.

On the 27th of May, lieutenant Thomas Bland of the marines,
in command of the barge of the 32-gun 'frigate Seine, captain
David Atkins, when off Aguadilla, island of Porto Rico, went
in pursuit of the Spanish schooner Concepcion, mounting 2 long
six-pounders, with a crew of 10 men besides several passengers,
and captured her after some resistance. About three weeks
afterwards the same enterprising officer, assisted by midship-
man Edward Cook, being on a cruise in the barge, destroyed a
Spanish sloop ; and after an action of three quarters of an hour
captured a second Concepcion, a large felucca, bound from
Porto Rico to Cadiz, and armed with 2 long four-pounders and
14 men, five of whom were severely wounded; but no loss was
sustained by the British.

On the 1st of June the 38-gun frigate Loire, captain F. L
Maitland, being off the coast of Spain, chased a small privateer
into the bay of Camarinas, near Cape Finisterre ; and when it
became dark, the launch and the two cutters, with 35 officers
and men under lieutenant James Lucas Yeo, assisted by lieu-
tenant Samuel Mallock of the marines, and three midshipmen,
were sent to attempt her capture. Owing to the intricacy of
the passage, the boats did not reach the point of attack until
break of day on the 2nd, when they found two privateers moor-
ed under a battery of 10 guns. Lieutenant Yeo, with the two
cutters, gallantly attacked and carried the Spanish felucca Es-
peranza, armed with long eighteen-pounders, 4 four-pounders,
brass swivels, and 50 men ; of these 19 were missing, including
several that had been killed by the pike and sabre, the only
weapon used by the British, to prevent discovery. The launch,
commanded by Mr. Charles Clinch, master's-mate, had in the
mean time attacked and captured a lugger of 2 six-pounders,
and 32 men. No loss was sustained by the British in this affair.

330 LOIRE AT MUROS.

Captain Maitland having received information that a french
privateer of 26 guns was fitting out at Muros, and nearly ready
for sea, he resolved to attempt the capture or destruction of
that vessel. After arranging the plan of attack, the Loire at 9
a. m. on the 4th stood into the bay, having in tow the boats
containing fifty officers and men, commanded by lieutenant
Yeo, assisted by lieutenants of marines Samuel Mallock and
Joseph Douglas, and master's mate Charles Clinch.

As the Loire hauled round the point, a small battery of 2
long eighteen-pounders opened a fire upon her, and some shots
were returned ; but finding that the battery, from its command-
ing situation, would considerably annoy the ship, lieutenant Yeo
was directed to push for the shore and spike the guns.

As the Loire opened the bay, a corvette was discovered,
pierced with 13 ports of a-side, apparently ready for sea, and a
brig with 10, in a state of fitting; but neither had their guns
mounted. These vessels were protected by a fort of 12 long
eighteen-pounders, which now opened to view within less than
a quarter of a mile, and which commenced a well-directed
fire on the frigate. The Loire immediately anchored with a
spring, and opened her broadside upon the fort ; but with little
effect, owing to its elevated situation, and from being protected
by its embrasures. After a few minutes of this unequal war-
fare, during which the Loire had 9 men wounded, the fort
ceased its annoyance ; and just at that moment the british
colours appeared above the walls.

As lieutenant Yeo landed with his party to storm the battery
on the point, the Spaniards, amounting to 18 men, abandoned
their guns and fled ; and scarcely had the seamen time to spike
the 2 eighteen-pounders, when at the distance of a quarter of a
mile, and close to the town of Muros, the fort, whose destructive
fire upon the frigate we have just described, was observed to
open upon the Loire. Notwithstanding the formidable appear-
ance of the fort, lieutenant Yeo determined to attempt its imme-
diate reduction, and the detachment readily proceeded to the

CAPTURE OF CONFIANCE. 331

attack of this important post. Not suspecting an attack by land,
and being wholly occupied in firing at the frigate, the garrison
had left open the outer gate of the fort : the french sentinel,
after discharging his musket, retreated through this gate, and
was quickly followed by the advance of the storming party, led
by lieutenant Yeo, who attacked and killed the governor. The
contest then became severe, but the boldness and vigour of the
assault was irresistible, and the remainder of the garrison, com-
posed principally of the crew of the french corvette, and number-
ing above 90 men, fled to the further end of the fort ; from the
embrasures of which many of them leaped upon the rocks, a
height of 25 feet. Shortly after this, the survivors in the fort
having laid down their arms, the british colours were hoisted
on the flag-staff, as we have described. Lieutenant Yeo, Mr.
Clinch, 3 seamen, and 1 marine wounded, was the extent of the
british loss in this daring enterprise. The loss on the part of
the garrison was extremely severe : the governor and the second
captain of the fort, with 10 others, were killed, and 30 wounded.
The 12 eighteen-pounders being spiked and thrown over the
parapet, and part of the fort blown up, the British re- embarked
without sustaining any further loss ; and the two privateers, to-
gether with a Spanish merchant brig, were brought away.
Lieutenant Yeo was promoted to the rank of commander, and
lieutenant Mallock obtained the adjutancy of the Plymouth
division.

On the 6th of July lieutenant Pigot, of the Cambrian frigate,
having proceeded twelve miles up the river St. Mary's, North
America, in a small privateer which had been taken from the
enemy, attacked and captured an armed ship and brig, protected
by the militia from the shore. The British sustained a loss of
2 men killed, and 13 wounded.

Captain Beresford, in reporting this enterprise, observes,
" Lieutenant Masterman of the marines, who most ably seconded
all Mr. Pigot's views, escaped unhurt, to the wonder of all, for
his clothes were shot through and through,"

332 BLANCHE AND TOPAZE.

On the 19th of July the 36-gun frigate Blanche, captain Z.
Mudge, being in latitude 20° 20' north, and longitude 66° 44'
west, at 8 a.m. discovered to windward the french 40-gun fri-
gate Topaze, with a corvette of 22 guns, another of 18, and a
16-gun brig, who, under english colours, steered towards the
Blanche ; but the latter, on finding the private signal not
answered, made sail from the strange ships. At 9 a.m. the
Topaze had so far gained in the pursuit, as to discharge a
broadside into the starboard quarter of the Blanche ; who per-
ceiving that she could not escape, shortened sail, and as soon
as the Topaze had arrived within pistol-shot, the british frigate
returned the fire. The action continued with spirit, all the ves-
sels being under easy sail, and never without hail of each other :
the large corvette on the starboard-quarter, and two others close
astern. At about 10 h. 15 m. a.m. the Blanche attempted to
cross the bows of the Topaze ; but the latter defeated the ma-
noeuvre by putting her helm hard a-starboard, and passing
under the stern of her opponent, raked her with effect. The
engagement continued until 11 a.m., when having her sails and
rigging cut to pieces, seven of her guns dismounted, and six feet
of water in the hold, the Blanche struck her colours. At
the commencement of the action she had only 215 men on
board : of these 8 were killed ; lieutenant Thomas Peebles of
the marines (his legs broken by a splinter), and 14 wounded.
The captors finding their prize in a sinking state, set her on fire.

On the 26th of September the 50-gun ship Calcutta, captain
Daniel WoodrifF, having under convoy the Indus indiaman, with
six other merchant vessels, when in the Bay of Biscay fell in
with a french squadron of five sail of the line and three frigates,
under rear-admirai Allemand. At 11 a.m. the Calcutta made
the private signal, which not being answered, she directed the
Indus to make all possible sail a-head with the convoy, and
then stood for the 40-gun frigate Armide. After having been
distantly engaged with that ship for more than an hour, the
Calcutta at 5 p.m. found a more powerful opponent in the 74-

PHCENIX AND DIDON. 333

gun ship Magnanime, who began firing her chase guns at the
british ship, as the latter was still running under all sail to the
southward, with a light northerly breeze. Finding that the
Magnanime was far a-head of her consorts, captain Woodriff
resolved to attack and endeavour to cripple her; and when
within pistol-shot commenced an action, which was maintained
for three-quarters of an hour without intermission. By this
time being completely unrigged and unmanageable, the Cal-
cutta hauled down her colours, having sustained a loss of 6
men killed and 6 wounded, out of a crew of 343 men and
boys.

On the 10th of August the 36-gun frigate Phoenix, captain
Thomas Baker, cruising off Cape Ortegal, at 5 a. m. bore up in
chase of the french 40-gun frigate Didon, who having shortened
sail to await the approach of the Phoenix, at 8 h. 45 m. opened
a smart fire, and then wore round and discharged her other
broadside into the bows of the british frigate. This manoeuvre
was thrice repeated, to the great annoyance of the Phcenix, who
failing in her intention of passing astern of her opponent, and
engaging her to leeward ; and hopeless, from her inferior sailing,
of being able to pass a-head of the Didon, ran right at her to
windward. At 9 h. 15 m. the action was mutually maintained
within pistol-shot, but owing to the press of sail under which
the Phcenix had approached, she ranged considerably a-head.
The Didon filled and stood on, and crossing the stern of the
Phoenix, fired some distant shot ; then profiting by the damaged
state of her opponent's rigging, the french frigate bore up,
passed under the stern of the Phcenix, and again raked her.
The Didon now hauled up on the larboard tack, intending to
discharge her starboard broadside in a similar manner; but
the Phcenix throwing all aback, defeated the attempt and
brought her starboard quarter against the stern of the Didon,
both ships lying nearly in a parallel direction. The instant
they came in contact, each prepared to board ; but the great
superiority of numbers that advanced to the assault on board

334 CAPTURE OF DIDON.

the Didon, made it necessary for the Phcenix to defend her own
decks. Having repulsed the boarders, chiefly by the steady fire
of the marines under first-lieutenant Henry Steele, and second-
lieutenant John Peter Pleydell, a main-deck gun was brought
to bear upon her opponent out of the cabin window of the
Phoenix, which at the first discharge swept the Didon' s deck,
and killed or wounded 24 men. Meanwhile the marines and
small-arm men on the quarter-deck were exerting themselves in
the most gallant manner ; one party directing their attention to
the troops on the enemy's gangway, while the other was fully
occupied in preventing the men on the Didon's forecastle from
discharging their thirty-six pounder carronade.

After the frigates had remained on board of each other for
upwards of half an hour, and j ust as the Didon began to fore-
reach, the fire of the second aftermost gun of the Phoenix
knocked away the french ship's head-rails, and cut the gam-
moning of her bowsprit. As the Didon forged a-head, her guns
were successively brought to bear, and a mutual cannonade re-
commenced, yard-arm and yard-arm, to the evident advantage
of the british ship, until her opponent had passed out of range
of her guns, with her main top-mast gone, and her fore-mast
tottering. The rigging and sails of the Phoenix were so much
cut up, as to render her almost unmanageable : her main-royal
mast, main top-sail yard and gaff, were shot away ; but the
english colours were still displayed, suspended from either cross
jack yard-arm. Both ships were actively employed in repairing
their damaged rigging; and about noon the Phcenix, having
sufficiently refitted, closed with her opponent. At about 15 mi-
nutes past noon, when about to renew the action, the Didon,
from the fall of her foremast being incapable of offering fur-
ther resistance, hauled down the french colours. Out of the 260
men and boys on board the Phoenix, her second-lieutenant, one
master's mate, and 10 seamen were killed ; lieutenant Henry
Steele of the marines (dangerously in the head), two midship-
men, 13 seamen, and 12 marines were wounded: total, — 12

NELSON PURSUES VILLENEUVE. 335

killed, and 28 wounded. The Didon, out of a crew of 330, had
27 killed and 44 badly wounded.

On the 29th of March a french squadron of eleven sail of the
line and six frigates, under vice-admiral Villeneuve, having 3500
troops on board, sailed from Toulon ; and on the 8th of April
they stood into the bay of Cadiz, driving away vice-admiral sir
John Orde, with his five sail of the line.

Receiving a reinforcement of five Spanish and one french ship
of the line, vice-admiral Villeneuve quitted Cadiz on the 9th ;
when this combined fleet, consisting of seventeen sail of the line,
six frigates, and three brigs, steered a westerly course ; but ow-
ing to contrary winds and calms, they did not reach Martinique
until the 13th of May, and on the 16th they were joined by the
Spanish 80-gun ship San Rafael. On the 3rd of April vice-ad-
miral lord Nelson was apprized by the Phoebe frigate of the
french fleet being at sea : not gaining any intimation of their
route, and surmising their course would be westward, his lord-
ship made sail in that direction ; and on the 17th, information
was obtained of the enemy having passed the straits. The pre-
valence of strong southerly and westerly winds made it the 30th
ere lord Nelson got sight of Gibraltar ; and it was not until the
7th of May that the squadron passed through the straits. Hav-
ing anchored in Lagos bay, and obtained a supply of provisions
from the british transports, the vice-admiral with the Victory,
Canopus, Superb, Spencer, Swiftsure, Belleisle, Conqueror,
Tigre, Leviathan, and three frigates, crowded sail to the west-
ward on the 1 1th, in pursuit of the combined fleet. After touch-
ing at Madeira on the 15th, the admiral gained intelligence on
the 3rd of June, of the enemy being in the West Indies ; and on
thd 4th, the british fleet anchored in Carlisle bay, where they
were joined by the Northumberland and Spartiate. Here the
squadron embarked 2000 troops, and then proceeded towards
Tobago and Trinidad ; but on the 7th the vice-admiral, finding
that he had been misled, altered his course, and on the 9th ar-
rived off Grenada, where lord Nelson received accounts that the

336 VILLENEUVE ARRIVES OFF FERROL.

enemy had passed the island of Dominique on the 6th, steering
to the northward, On the 13th the british fleet arrived at
Antigua, where the troops were disembarked ; and leaving the
Northumberland as the flag-ship of admiral Cochrane, Lord
Nelson stood to the northward with his eleven ships of the line,
in the hope of reaching the shores of Europe before the ene-
my could arrive there.

To return to vice-admiral Villeneuve: we find that two french
line of battle ships joined his fleet on the 5th of June, when at
Martinique, and after embarking a portion of that garrison, he
proceeded with an intention of reducing some of the windward
islands ; but learning that the british squadron was close upon
his heels, the french admiral hastily got rid of his military force,
and bent his course towards Ferrol. After capturing several
english merchant-men, and having recaptured the Spanish gal-
leon Matilda, the combined fleet of twenty sail of the line
arrived off Cape Finisterre on the 9th of July. Lord Nelson
also hastened towards Europe, and on the 18th fell in with
three ships of the line under vice-admiral Collingwood. On
the 19th the squadron arrived at Gibraltar, and having reple-
nished the water and provisions, repassed the straits on the
28th, and reached England on the 16th of August.

Soon after the arrival of the combined fleet off Cape
Finisterre on the 9th of July, a violent gale from the north-
east sprang up, which slightly damaged some of the ships:
the wind moderated, but continued to blow from the same
adverse quarter until the 20th. On the 22nd, in the fore-
noon, the enemy's force of twenty sail of the line, consist-
ing of seven ships of 80 guns, eleven of 74 guns, and two
of 64 guns, seven frigates, two brigs, and the galleon, were
steering in a thick fog towards Ferrol, in three divisions, with
a light breeze from west-north-west ; when on a sudden clear-
ing up of the weather, ten sail of the line were signalled by
their advanced ship, approaching on the starboard tack, and
presently twenty-one were discovered. The strangers were

SIR ROBERT CALDER OFF FERROL. 337

fifteen british ships of the line, two frigates, a cutter, and a lug-
ger, under vice-admiral sir Robert Calder, who after making
the necessary preparatory signals, formed his fleet in line of
battle as follows : — Hero 74, Ajax £4, Triumph 74, Barfleur 98,
Agamemnon 64, Windsor Castle 98, Defiance 74, Prince of
Wales 98 vice-admiral sir Robert Calder, Repulse 74, Raison-
able 64, Dragon 74, Glory 98 rear-admiral Stirling, Warrior 74,
Thunderer 74, and Malta of 80 guns.

About the same time the combined fleet arranged themselves
in line of battle, and under top-sails stood on upon the larboard
tack, rather off the wind, in a close well-formed line ; one fri-
gate a-head, another astern with the galleon in tow, and the
remaining five frigates to windward of the centre and rear. At
this time the British were nearly a-beam, and about seven miles
distant ; but owing to the fog, neither fleet was more than par-
tially in sight of each other.

At 3 h. 20 m. p. m. the signal was made to engage the enemy,
and immediately afterwards for the fleet to tack together; but
this was annulled, and the ships, having been ordered to make
all possible sail and steer south-south-west, were at 4h. 21m.
directed to tack in succession. The signal to this effect was
made by each commander-in-chief about the same time, but
the weather being so foggy, neither fleet observed the com-
mencement of the other's manoeuvre. The British tacked to
prevent their opponents escaping them on the opposite tack .
and the enemy, who had hauled close to the wind, on approach-
ing within three miles of the british fleet wore round, in conse-
quence of signal-guns in quick succession from the sternmost
frigate, signifying that the rear was in danger.

This was occasioned by the bold approach of the Sirius, who
had tacked with the intention of attempting to carry, by board-
ing, the galleon in tow of the frigate. At that moment the
Spanish 80-gun ship Argonauta was discerned through the haze,
approaching with the wind nearly a-beam : this compelled
captain Prowse to relinquish his design upon the galleon,
vol. i. z

338 COMBINED FLEET ATTACKED.

and seek his own safety ; and in effecting this, the Sirius had to
pass to leeward of the enemy's line : fortunately, neither of the
three Spanish line-of-battle ships considered her inferiority wor-
thy of their notice. At abo^it 5h. 15 m. the Hero, the british
van-ship, hove in stays; and the Spanish ships, all of whom had
royals and courses set, instantly hoisted their colours, and com-
menced the action, the Argonauta firing her larboard guns at
the Hero, and the Espana her's at the Sirius, which killed two
men, and wounded three on board the frigate. The Ajax tacked
astern of the Hero, but instead of supporting captain Gardner
in his bold manoeuvre, captain Brown bore away to acquaint the
admiral with the change in the enemy's van, and the Ajax then
fell into the line astern of the Glory ; thus making herself the
twelfth, instead of the second, ship from the van. The british
ships successively tacked, and by 6 p. m., with the exception of
the Dragon, who was still to leeward working up, the whole had
got round on the starboard tack, and the greater part found
opponents in the opposite line ; but what with the fog and the
smoke, no ship could see much beyond her own length.

Owing to the disorder arising from this circumstance, some
ships in both fleets had several opponents at the same time. On
the british side the Windsor Castle was the principal sufferer;
and the Ajax, Prince of Wales, Thunderer, and Malta, the last
especially, took part in this unequal contest. Of the combined
fleet, the San Rafael, Firme, and Espana, having dropped to
leeward, became generally exposed to the fire of the British.
The Firme's critical situation called the attention of captain
Cosmao Kerjulien, of the french-74 Pluton, who gallantly bore
up out of the line, and for awhile covered the Spanish ship from
the destructive fire to which she was exposed ; but the Firme
was too powerfully opposed to profit by the aid of her ally, and
the Pluton herself with difficulty regained her station. Shortly
afterwards the french ship bore up a second time to interpose
herself between the Espana and the powerful fire of the british
line : and with the assistance of the Mont Blanc and Atlas,

TWO SPANISH SHIPS CAPTURED. 339

captain Kerjulien succeeded in rescuing the Espana. The Atlas
suffered most severely, and but for the support of the Neptune
and some others, would certainly have been captured.

The Firme, having lost her mizen-masts, surrendered about 8
p.m., and shortly afterwards her fore-mast went over the side.
The San Rafael, with loss of main top-mast, and subsequently
of all her masts, also struck, and both ships were taken posses-
sion of. It was about 8 h. 30 m. when sir Robert Calder made
the night-signal to discontinue the action, at which time the
british ships were much scattered, and the combined fleet barely
within gun-shot to windward ; and as the signal of the british
admiral was observed but by few ships of his fleet, the general
firing did not cease until 9 h. 30 m. p.m. Shortly afterwards
the fleet brought to on the starboard tack, and lay by repairing
damages, in order to renew the contest on the morrow.

The total loss sustained by the british fleet amounted to 39
officers and men killed, and 159 wounded ; while the gross
amount of killed and wounded in the combined fleet is stated to
have been 476.

At day-break on the 23rd the two fleets were about seventeen
miles apart ; and owing to the hazy state of the morning they
were but partially visible to each other : but the advanced
squadrons of the respective fleets were within six miles. Far
to leeward, and out of sight of the admiral, were the Malta,
Thunderer, the two frigates and prizes; whilst between them and
the main body lay the crippled Windsor Castle, in tow of the
Dragon. Having concentrated his fleet, the british admiral, at
9 h. a.m., hauled up on the larboard tack, steering to the north-
east, keeping between the enemy and his three disabled ships:
the Windsor Castle being in tow of the Dragon, the San Rafael
of the Egyptienne, and the Firme of the Sirius.

Towards noon the combined fleet, formed in order of battle,
bore up towards the British, then about four leagues distant in
the east-south-east ; but owing to the lightness of the breeze, it
was not until 3 h. 10 m. that their advance was noticed bv their

z 2

340 LORD NELSON ARRIVES OFF CADIZ.

opponents, who immediately hoisted their colours, and by haul-
ing closer to the wind, awaited the expected attack. At 4 p.m.
the enemy, with colours also hoisted, and then distant about
three leagues from the British, hauled to the wind on the same
tack, thus declining a renewal of the engagement.

At 8 a.m. on the 24th the wind, having shifted to north-east,
brought the combined fleet nearly astern of the British, now
to windward, and might in all probability have recommenced the
action ; but sir Robert continued with his prizes under easy sail,
steering about south-east by east, working towards a british port,
whilst the enemy edged away south-east by south ; and by 6
p.m. the two fleets had wholly disappeared from each other. Ad-
miral Villeneuve, with his eighteen sail of the line, reached the
port of Vigo on the 26th, and having refitted his fleet, quitted
that anchorage with thirteen french and two Spanish ships of the
line on the 30th, and arrived at Corunna on the 1st of August.
On the 11th the combined fleet, reinforced by a squadron from
Ferrol, amounting to twenty-nine ships of the line, put to sea ;
and on the 20th this formidable armament anchored in Cadiz
harbour, where they found six Spanish ships : thus forming a
total of thirty-five sail of the line and several frigates.

The british squadron cruising off that port consisted of the
Dreadnought, bearing the flag of vice-admiral Collingwood, and
the two seventy-fours Colossus and Achille, who were reinforced
by four sail of the line on the 22nd ; and on the 30th sir Robert
Calder joined with eighteen line-of-battle ships. Lord Nelson,
in the Victory, arrived from Portsmouth on the 28th of Septem-
ber, to take the chief command of the Mediterranean fleet, which
now consisted of twenty-seven sail of the line ; twenty-two of
which cruised about fifteen miles off Cadiz, while the remaining
five, under rear-admiral Louis, were stationed close to the har-
bour, to watch the motions of the enemy. Between the 1st and
the 17th of October there had been several interchanges of
ships : six were detached to Gibraltar for provisions and water,
and sir Robert Calder returned to England in the Prince of

COMBINED FLEET PUTS TO SEA.

341

Wales; whilst on the other hand the Royal Sovereign, Belle-
isle, Africa, and Agamemnon had joined, so that the fleet still
amounted to twenty-seven ships of the line, four frigates, a
schooner, and a cutter.

It has been stated, that on the very day his lordship arrived
to take the command of the Mediterranean fleet, vice-admiral
Villeneuve received the french emperor's commands to proceed
to sea. These orders had been issued in the preceding month,
requiring that the fleet should pass the straits ; and having
landed the troops on the coast of Italy, to sweep the Mediter-
ranean of all british vessels, and then enter the port of Toulon
to refit.

The french troops having embarked on the 10th of October,
the combined fleet moved to the entrance of the harbour in
readiness to start. From the 10th to the 17th it continued to
blow hard from the westward, with but little intermission ; but
at midnight on the 17th the wind shifted to the eastward, and
on the 18th vice-admiral Villeneuve determined on putting to
sea. At 7 a.m. on the 19th, the combined fleet, by signal, got
under way, with a light breeze at north by east; but owing to
the lightness of the wind, only twelve ships succeeded in getting
out, and these lay becalmed until early in the afternoon, when
a breeze springing up from the west-north-west, they stood to
the northward, accompanied by the british frigates, Sirius and
Euryalus. At daylight on the morning of the 20th, the remain-
der of the combined fleet quitted the port with a light breeze
at south-east, consisting, with the ships already outside, of
thirty-three sail of the line, five frigates, and two brigs.

Every movement of the enemy was reported by the british
frigates, and the communication conveyed to the commander-
in-chief by intermediate ships, stationed at convenient distances
from each other. It was on the 19th, at 9 h. 30m. a.m., while
the british fleet was lying to, about sixteen leagues west-south-
west from Cadiz, that the Mars came running down, with the
signal flying that the enemy was coming out of port. All sail

342 PREPARATION FOR BATTLE.

was immediately made in chase to the south-east, with a light
breeze from the south-south-west; and some ships were ordered
to lead the fleet, and to carry a light during the night.

At daylight on the 20th, the British found themselves at the
entrance of the straits, but nothing of the enemy was to be
seen : the fleet therefore wore, and made sail to the north-west,
with a fresh breeze at south- south-west. At 7 the enemy was
signalled north ; and by noon the british fleet was about nine
leagues south-west of Cadiz. At 2 p. m. they were taken
a-back by a breeze from west-north-west, and at 4 p.m. stood
to the northward. At 8h. 40 m. a.m. the british fleet wore to
the south-west; and at 4 a.m. on Monday the 21st they again
wore, and steered under easy sail to the north by east.

At 6 a. m., Cape Trafalgar bearing east by south, distant
about seven leagues, the combined fleet was seen from the Vic-
tory, and nearly at the same time by the whole british fleet,
bearing about east and by south, and distant about ten miles.
At 6h. 40m. a.m. the Victory made the signal to form the
order of sailing in two columns, and to prepare for battle, and
in another ten minutes to bear up. This prompt mode of attack
had been previously directed by lord Nelson, in order to avoid
the inconvenience and delay of forming a line of battle in the
usual manner.

The french admiral, considering the near approach of the
british fleet rendered an action unavoidable, made the signal at
8 h. 30 m. for his ships to wear together, and form line in close
order upon the larboard tack, thereby bringing the harbour of
Cadiz on his lee-bow. Owing to the lightness of the wind, it
was near 10 a.m. before the manoeuvre was completed ; and
even then the line was so very irregular, that it was more in the
form of a crescent, particularly towards the rear. Some ships
were to leeward, others to windward of their proper stations,
and they were generally two, and in a few instances three deep ;
thus accidentally presenting a far more formidable opposition,
than if each ship had been in the wake of her leader. They

THE BRITISH FLEET. 343

were mostly under top-sails and top-gallant sails, with the
main-top sail shivering, steering a point or two off the wind.
The british fleet made but slow progress, not going more than
a knot and half an hour with all sail set : the Victory leading
the weather, and the Royal Sovereign the lee column, in the
following order of battle : —

Battle of Trafalgar.

BRITISH FLEET.

Victory, 100 guns, vice-admiral lord Nelson (killed), captain T.
M. Hardy, 57 killed, 102 wounded. Captain Charles Wm.
Adair (killed), first-lieutenant James G. Peake (wounded),
second-lieutenant Lewis Buckle Reeves (wounded), second-
lieutenant Lewis Rotely.

Temeraire, 98 guns, captain E. Harvey, 47 killed, and 76
wounded. Captain Simon Busigny (mortally wounded),
second-lieutenant William N. Roe, second-lieutenant Sa-
muel J. Payne (wounded), second-lieutenant John Kingston
(killed).

Neptune, 98 guns, captain T. F. Freemantle, 10 killed, 34
wounded. First-lieutenant George Kendall, second-lieu-
tenant William Burton, second-lieutenant Lewis Rooke.

Leviathan, 74 guns, captain H. W. Bayntum, 4 killed, 22
wounded. Captain George P. Wingrove, first-lieutenant
Nathaniel Cole, first-lieutenant Thomas J. W. Tane.

Britannia, 100 guns, rear-admiral earl of Northesk, captain C.
Bullen, 10 killed, 42 wounded.. Captain Alexander Wat-
son, first-lieutenant William Jackson, second-lieutenant
L. B. J. Halloran, second-lieutenant John Cooke.

Conqueror, 74 guns, captain J. Pellew, 3 killed, 9 wounded.
Captain James Atcherly, second-lieutenants Patrick Toole,
and Thomas Wearing (wounded).

Africa, 64 guns, captain Henry Digby, 18 killed, 44 wounded.
Captain James Fynmore (wounded), first-lieutenant Tho-
mas Brattle.

344 OFFICERS OF MARINES AT

Agamemnon, 64 guns, captain sir E. Berry, 2 killed, 7 wounded.
Captain H. B. Downing, second-lieutenant Herbert Raban,
second-lieutenant Donald Campbell.

Ajax, 74 guns, lieutenant J. Pilfold, 2 killed, 9 wounded. Cap-
tain David Boyd, second-lieutenant J. Cinnamond, second-
lieutenant Samuel B. Ellis.

Orion, 74 guns, captain E. Codrington, 1 killed, 23 wounded.
Captain Henry VV. Creswell, second-lieutenant Stephen
Bridgman.

Minotaur, 74 guns, captain C. M. Mansfield, 3 killed, 22
wounded. Captain Paul Hunt, second-lieutenant Natha-
niel B. Grigg, second-lieutenant Thomas Reeves.

Spartiate, 74 guns, captain sir F. Lafoi'ey, 3 killed, 20 wounded.
First-lieutenant Samuel Hawkins, first-lieutenant John R.
Coryton, second-lieutenant G. D. Hawkins.

LEE COLUMN.

Royal Sovereign, 100 guns, vice-admiral C. Collingwood, cap-
tain E. Rotheram, 47 killed, 94 wounded. Captain Joseph
Vallack, second-lieutenant Robert Green (killed), second-
lieutenant Armiger Wm. Hubbard, second-lieutenant James
Le Vescomte (wounded).

Belleisle, 74 guns, captain W. Hargood (wounded), 34 killed,
96 wounded. First-lieutenant John Owen (wounded),
second-lieutenant John Weaver, second-lieutenant Paul
Harris Nicolas.

Mars, 74 guns, captain G. Duff (killed), 29 killed, 69 wounded.
Captain Thos. Norman, second-lieutenant Charles Holmes,
second-lieutenant Robert Guthrie.

Tonnant, 80 guns, captain C. Tyler (wounded), 26 killed, 50
wounded. Captain Arthur Ball, second-lieutenant James
Cottle, first-lieutenant William Magin.

Bellerophon, 74 guns, captain J. Cooke (killed), 27 killed, 123
wounded. Captain James Wemyss (wounded), second-
lieutenants John Wilson (2nd), Peter Connolly, and Luke
Higgins.

THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR. 345

Colossus, 74 guns, captain J. Morris (wounded), 40 killed, 160
wounded. Captain Elias Lawrence, second-lieutenant Wil-
liam Laurie, second-lieutenant John Benson (wounded).

Achille, 74 guns, captain R. King, 13 killed, 59 wounded.
Captain Palms Westropp (wounded), second-lieutenants
William Liddon (wounded), and Francis Whalley.

Dreadnought, 98 guns, captain J. Conn, 7 killed, 26 wounded.
Captain Thomas Timmins, first-lieutenants John M'Cullum
and Thomas Lemon, second-lieutenant David Manley.

Polyphemus, 64 guns, captain Robert Redmill, 2 killed, 4
wounded. Captain Michael Percival, first-lieutenant John
Mackintosh, second-lieutenant Charles Stewart.

Revenge, 74 guns, captain R. Moorsom (wounded), 28 killed,
51 wounded. Captain Peter Lely (wounded), second-
lieutenant Arthur Copperthwaite, second-lieutenant Henry
Blackler Fairtlough.

Swiftsure, 74 guns, captain H. G. Rutherford, 9 killed, 8
wounded. First-lieutenant William Gibbins, first-lieute-
nant Robert Gordon, second-lieutenant Henry Miller.

Defiance, 74 guns, captain P. C. Durham (wounded), 17
killed, 53 wounded. Captain Basil Alves, second-lieu-
tenant George Bristow.

Thunderer, 74 guns, lieutenant J. Stockham, 4 killed, 12
wounded. Captain Gilbert Elliott, second-lieutenant Wil-
liam Hockley, second-lieutenant John Lister.

Defence, 74 guns, captain G. Hope, 7 killed, 29 wounded.
Captain Henry Cox, first-lieutenant John Wilson (1st), se-
cond-lieutenant Alfred Burton.

Prince, 98 guns, captain R. Grind all. Captain Francis Wil-
liams, second-lieutenant Edward Pengelley, second-lieu-
tenant John Shillibeer.

Total,— 450 killed, 1244 wounded.

OFFICERS OF MARINES ON BOARD THE FRIGATES.

Phoebe, first-lieutenant Mortimer Timson; Euryalus, lieute-
nant John S and ford ; Naiad, lieutenants Edward Jones and P.

346

COMBINED FLEET.

S. Perkins; Sirius, lieutenants Thomas Moore and William
Murray.

The direction in which the combined fleet now lay, with a
home port scarcely seven leagues on their lee-bow, induced lord
Nelson to telegraph to his second in command, " I intend to pass
through the van of the enemy's line, to prevent him from get-
ting into Cadiz ;" and as the shoals of San Pedro and Trafalgar
were under the lee of both fleets, his lordship, in order to guard
against that danger, made the signal " Prepare to anchor after
close of day." Shortly afterwards that emphatic message of
" England expects every man to do his duty," was communi-
cated to the fleet by telegraph. The inspiring sentiment excited
the most lively enthusiasm, and was greeted by hearty cheers
on board of every ship.

Having already described the formation of the combined line
of battle, it is only necessary to observe, that the commander-
in-chief in the Bucentaure, with the Santissima Trinidada, his
second, a-head, were directly in front of the Victory ; the Santa
Ana, bearing the flag of vice-admiral D'Alava, was in the same
direction from the Royal Sovereign ; whilst the Spanish com-
mander-in-chief, admiral Gravina, in the Principe d'Asturias,
was the rearmost ship of the combined fleet, which formed
nearly as follows : —

COMBINED FLEET.

Neptuno 80, Scipion 74, Intrepide 74, Rayo 100, Formidable
80, Dugnay Trouin 74, Mont Blanc 74, San Francisco d'Asis 74,
San Augustin 74, Heros 74, Santissima Trinidada 130, Bucen-
taure 74, Neptune 80, San Leandro 64, Redoutable 74, San
Justo 80, Indomptable 80, Santa Ana 112, Fougueux 74, Mo-
narca 74, Pluton 74, Algesiras 74, Bahama 74, Aigle 74, Swift-
sure 74, Argonaute 74, Montanez 74, Argonauta 80, Berwick 74,
San Juan Nepornuceno 74, San Ildefonso 74, Achille 74, Prin-
cipe d'Asturias 112.

It was just at noon, the wind very light, the sea smooth, with
a heavy ground-swell setting from the westward, and the sun

ROYAL SOVEREIGN. 347

shining beautifully upon the fresh-painted sides of the long line
of the french and Spanish ships, when the ship next to the Santa
Ana, the Fougueux, opened her fire upon the Royal Sovereign.
The british fleet immediately hoisted their colours, and the
Victory made the signal for close action : about the same time
the enemy also hoisted their ensigns, and the admirals, with the
exception of vice-admiral Villeneuve, their flags.

At ten minutes past noon, the Royal Sovereign having
reached a position elose astern of the Santa Ana, discharged
her guns double shotted into her, and with her starboard broad-
side distantly raked the Fougueux. It was just at this moment
that lord Nelson, observing the enviable position of his friend,
exclaimed, " See, how nobly Collingwood carries his ship into
action/' The Royal Sovereign then ranged close alongside of
the three-decker to leeward, and a tremendous cannonade en-
sued between these two powerful ships ; but besides this equal
contest the british ship had other opponents. About 400 yards
a-head lay the San Leandro, who bearing away raked the So-
vereign, while the Fougueux kept up a galling fire astern: she
was also exposed to the occasional fire of the San Justo and
Indomptable, within 300 yards, on her bow and quarter; but
finding they were sustaining injury from their own cross fire,
and the near approach of other british ships, the four two-
deckers drew off' from the Royal Sovereign, leaving her closely
engaged with the Santa Ana.

For upwards of fifteen minutes the Royal Sovereign was the
only british ship in close action, and she had taken a position
upon the lee-bow of her opponent, when the Belleisle fired
her broadside into the stern of the Santa Ana, and then bore
away for the Indomptable. Just at this time the mizen top-
mast of the Spanish three-decker was shot away, and at the
end of about an hour and a quarter from the commencement
of the battle, her three masts had fallen over the side; and
after a severe contest of a little more than two hours, the Santa
Ana struck her colours. At this period the mizen-mast of the

348

BELLEISLE.

Royal Sovereign came down, and shortly afterwards her main-
mast fell over the starboard side, tearing away two of her lower
deck ports; whilst the tottering fore- mast was so disabled, that
the british ship was almost in as unmanageable a state as the
Spanish three-decker she had so gallantly captured. Lieutenant
Robert Green and 13 marines were killed ; lieutenant James
Le Vescomte and 16 marines wounded.

After sustaining the tremendous fire opened upon her from
the centre and rear of the combined line for more than twenty
minutes, and having, notwithstanding the precaution of the men
lying down a-fore and aft, suffered a loss of above 50 in killed
and wounded : her sails and rigging cut to pieces, and her mizen
top-mast over the side, the Belleisle, at thirty minutes past noon
discharged a treble-shotted broadside into the stern of the
Santa Ana, and with her starboard guns exchanged some shot
with the Fougueux ; then bearing away a little, she passed
under the stern of the Indomptable, who quickly wearing, ex-
changed a few broadsides with her, and bore away to the south-
east. At about forty-five minutes past noon the Belleisle's
main top-mast was shot away, and as the enemy's rear were
now pressing forward to support the centre, the british ship's
situation became extremely critical.

At 1 p. m. the Fougueux ranged up in the smoke on the
Belleisle's starboard beam, and striking her at the gangway
with her larboard bow, dropped alongside. After both ships had
engaged for about a quarter of an hour, during which the mizen
mast of the Belleisle fell over her larboard quarter, the Fou-
gueux dropped astern, and hauling to the northward ran on
board the Temeraire. At 1 h. 30 m. p.m. the french Achille,
ranging past the stern of the Belleisle, stationed herself on the
latter's larboard quarter, and kept up a steady fire with compa-
rative impunity, while the Aigle engaged her, distantly, on the
starboard side ; and as the Leandro and San Justo passed a-
head on their way to join admiral Gravina in the rear, they
opened a fire on the british ship.

MARS. 349

Thus in a manner surrounded, the Belleisle, at 2 h. 1.0 m. p.m.,
had her main-mast shot away about four feet above the deck,
which failing aft on the break of the poop, with the wreck already
over her larboard side, disabled the guns, and prevented her
from returning the Achille's destructive fire. At 2 h. 30 m. the
french Neptune, driven from her station upon the bows of the
Victory and Temeraire by the approach of the Leviathan,
placed herself across the starboard bow of the Belleisle, who was
still engaged by two other ships ; and at 2 h. 45 m. the fore-mast
and bowsprit of this almost helpless ship were shot away by
the board.

At 3 h. 15 m. the Polyphemus having interposed herself be-
tween the Belleisle and the Neptune, the latter stood on towards
the rear ; and shortly afterwards the Defiance took off the fire
of the Aigle. The british Swiftsure next approached, and pass-
ing close to the stern of the Belleisle as she lay covered in the
wreck of her masts and sails, with the english colours fastened
to the stump of her mizen-mast, manned her rigging, cheered
the gallantly defended ship, and then opened her fire upon the
Achille. Thus relieved by the timely arrival of her friends,
from the overwhelming force around her, the Belleisle ceased
firing at about 3 h. 30 m. p.m.: captain Hargood observing that
a Spanish two-decker had already surrendered, sent the master
and lieutenant John Owen, the senior officer of marines (who
volunteered, although wounded) to take possession of the 80-
gun ship Argonauta. On board the Belleisle eight marines
were killed; lieutenant Owen, and 19 wounded.

The Mars following the Belleisle, suffered severely from the
heavy raking fire to which she was exposed, particularly from
the San Juan, Monarca, Pluton, and Algesiras; and directing
her course to pass between the first two of these ships, the
Pluton ranged a-head and became engaged with the Mars, who
had also found opponents in the Monarca and Algesiras ; but
the Tonnant coming up, soon gave full employment for both
those ships. The Mars then had her attention called to the

350 TON N A NT.

Fougueux ; and after receiving her broadside, as the latter
hauled off from the Belleisle, she was severely raked astern by
the Pluton, from which ship a cannon-shot killed captain Duff,
when standing on the break of the quarter-deck. By this time,
on the approach of other british ships, the Pluton stood away
to the south-east to join admiral Gravina; whilst the Fougueux
made off to the northward in the direction of the Temeraire.
The main top-mast and spanker-boom of the Mars were shot
away, and her masts were so much injured that they all fell by
the board during the gale on the following day. Eight marines
were killed ; captain Thomas Norman and 16 wounded, on board
the Mars.

The Tonnant, after firing at the ships which pressed upon the
Mars, steered for the larboard bow of the Algesiras, then stand-
ing slowly onwards in the line, and very near to her leader, the
Monarca; but the french ship backing her main and mizen
top-sails as the Tonnant advanced, the latter was enabled to pass
under the stern of the Monarca, and then range up alongside
the Spanish ship, who soon dropped astern and struck her
colours, although she afterwards rehoisted them. At this
time the Tonnant had her fore top-mast and main-yard shot
away, when the Algesiras, making sail, endeavoured to cross
her stern ; but the latter putting her helm a-port, defeated the
manoeuvre, and ran the Algesiras on board. The bowsprit and
anchors of the Algesiras getting entangled in her opponent's
main rigging, the two ships remained fast together, greatly to
the advantage of the Tonnant ; who, while engaged with her
principal antagonist, had to contend with the San Juan on her
larboard bow, and the Monarca, who had rehoisted her colours,
on her quarter. At about 1 h. 10 m. captain Tyler received a
severe wound, which compelled him to resign the command to
lieutenant John Bedford, and an animated fire was maintained
by the two ships; during which the Algesiras lost her fore-mast,
and the Tonnant her main and mizen top-masts. The french
ship now made a serious attempt to board ; but the marines of

BELLEROPHON. 351

the Tonnant under captain Arthur Ball, kept up so steady and
well-directed a fire, that the assailants were repulsed. At about
2 h. 15 m. p.m., just as the main and mizen-masts of the Alge-
siras were about to share the fate of her fore-mast, the gallantly-
defended ship struck her colours ; and lieutenant Bennett, with
captain Ball of the marines and 50 men, stepped on board and
took possession of her. In another quarter of an hour the San
Juan also surrendered. Nine marines were killed, and 16
wounded on board the Tonnant: the Algesiras had upwards of
200 men killed and wounded, including several officers ; and
among them, mortally wounded, the brave and respected rear-
admiral Magon.

The Bellerophon, from being at some distance astern of the
Tonnant, and owing to the lightness of the wind, did not cut
through the enemy's line for more than a quarter of an hour
after the latter ; and passing under the stern of the Monarca, as
the Spanish ship, with colours rehoisted, was dropping away
from the Tonnant, the Bellerophon, at about 50 minutes past
noon, ran foul of the Aigie, the latter's main-yard locking with
her fore-yard ; and whilst thus closely engaged with an oppo-
nent of equal force, the Bellerophon sustained the fire of the
Monarca and Montanez to windward, and the Bahama and
french Swiftsure on either quarter. In this unequal contest the
Bellerophon suffered severely ; and at 1 p. m. her main and
mizen top-masts fell over the starboard side ; shortly after-
wards captain Cooke was killed, and the command devolved on
lieutenant Pryce Camby. The Swiftsure and Montanez then
became engaged with the Colossus ; and at 1 h. 40 m. p.m. the
Aigle, after several ineffectual attempts to board, having dropped
astern, was exposed to a raking fire from her opponent, as well
as from the Revenge. The Bellerophon, now in an unmanage-
able state, took possession of the Monarca, and subsequently of
the Bahama, who had surrendered to the destructive fire of the
Colossus. Four marines were killed, captain Wemyss and 20
wounded, on board the Bellerophon.

352* colossus.

At about 1 p.m. the Colossus ran past the starboard side of
the french Swiftsure, as she edged away to bring her larboard
guns to bear on the quarter of the Bellerophon, and owing to
the density of the smoke, nothing was visible to leeward until
the Colossus found herself close alongside the Argonaute, whose
larboard yard-arms were locked in her starboard ones. After a
smart cannonade, which lasted about a quarter of an hour, the
Argonaute's fire slackened, and as she paid off, she received a
heavy raking broadside from the Colossus. It was just as the
french ship had receded, that captain Morris received a severe
wound a little above the knee ; but the gallant officer, having
applied a tourniquet, did not quit the deck. In the mean while
the Colossus was warmly engaged with the Swiftsure on the
larboard quarter, and with the Bahama, who kept up a gall-
ing fire across the Swiftsure's fore-foot; but on the latter
dropping astern, the Bahama occupied the entire attention of
the Colossus, whose well-directed fire soon brought down the
main-mast of the Spanish ship, and compelled her to make
sisms of having; surrendered. The french Swiftsure now endea-
voured to bear up under the stern of the Colossus ; but the lat-
ter wearing more quickly, poured in her starboard broadside,
which brought down the Swiftsure's mizen-mast; and the Bel-
lerophon in passing having knocked away her main-mast, the
french ship surrendered to the Colossus, who, in hauling up to
take possession of the two prizes, lost her wounded mizen-mast
over the starboard side. Her other masts were much disabled,
and the main- mast went during the ensuing night. Eight ma-
rines were killed on board the Colossus, and lieutenant John
Benson and 31 wounded.

The Achille, following closely after the Colossus, passed under
the stern of the Montanez, and luffed up alongside of her to lee-
ward ; but in less than a quarter of an hour, the Spanish ship
sheered off, and the Achille bore away to succour the Belleisle,
then lying partly dismasted, with three enemy's ships upon her.
On her way down, the Achille became engaged with the Argo-

DREADNOUGHT. 353

nauta, until the Spanish colours were hauled down. At that
moment two french ships claimed the attention of the Achille,
who had to contend with her french namesake to windward ;
whilst the Berwick, after being distantly engaged with the
Defence, ranged up on the british ship's starboard side, between
her and the Argonauta. The two ships continued in close ac-
tion for upwards of an hour, when the Berwick hauled down her
colours, and was taken possession of by the Achille. In the
mean time, the french Achille had passed on in the direction of
the Belleisle, and the Argonauta dropped to leeward. Six ma-
rines were among the killed ; captain Palms Westropp lost an
arm, lieutenant William Liddon and 14 men wounded. The Ber-
wick lost her captain, and above 200 men in killed and wounded.
Continuing the proceedings of the lee division of the british fleet,
the Dreadnought next claims our attention. It was about 2 p.m.
when that ship got into action with the San Juan, who was then
surrounded by the Principe de Asturias, San Justo, and the In-
domptable. At about 2 h. 20 m. the Dreadnought ran on board
of and captured the San Juan, who, having previously been en-
gaged by the Tonnant, Bellerophon, and some other ships, was
nearly in a defenceless state ; the Dreadnought, therefore, with-
out waiting to take possession of this severely-handled ship,
stood on towards the Principe de Asturias ; but after two or
three broadsides the Spanish three-decker made sail, and with
several other ships effected her escape. One marine was killed
and 4 wounded on board the Dreadnought.

The Polyphemus, after hauling to starboard to allow the
Dreadnought to close with the Spanish three-decker, was ob-
liged to wait until the Swiftsure had passed a-head before she
could resume her station. It was at about 3 h. 25 m. when the
Swiftsure, after crossing the Belleisle's stern, opened her fire
upon the french Achille, as the latter, passing along the larboard
beam of the Belleisle, edged away to the south-east, followed
and engaged by the Swiftsure, who presently succeeded in cross-
ing her opponent's stern, and getting to leeward of her. The
vol. i. 2 a

354 POLYPHEMUS AND REVENGE.

Polyphemus about this time, after receiving a heavy fire from
the french Neptune, in passing between that ship and the Belle-
isle, had advanced on the Achille's weather-quarter. In about
half an hour after the Svviftsure commenced firing on the Achille,
the latter had her mizen-mast and fore-yard shot away, and
having taken fire in the fore-top, she ceased to engage ; but
the Prince bore down in time to assist in silencing this nobly
defended ship. The Polyphemus then stood away towards the
Defence, who was engaged with the San Ildefonso; but the
Spanish colours were hauled down before the Polyphemus could
take part in the action. Two marines were killed on board the
Svviftsure, and one marine wounded.

In attempting to pass through the enemy's line, the Revenge
stood so close a-head of the Aigle, that the jib-boom of the
french ship caught the mizen top-sail of her antagonist, and
enabled her to pour two deliberate broadsides into her bows
before the two ships got clear. The Revenge then stood on,
and while hauling up on the larboard tack, received a destruc-
tive fire into her lee-quarter from the Principe de Asturias,
who, in conjunction with three ships around her, continued to
cannonade the Revenge, until the Dreadnought and Thunderer
took off the fire of the Spanish three-decker. From the exposed
situation of the Revenge, her loss was very severe, and her masts
and rigging were much disabled. Eight of her marines were
killed ; captain Lely and nine marines wounded.

The Defence commenced engaging the Berwick at 2 h. 30 m.
p.m., but in less than half an hour the french ship hauled off,
and sustained a sharp contest with the Achille, as we have al-
ready related. The San Ildefonso was the next opponent of the
Defence, and after engaging for upwards of an hour, the Spanish
ship struck her colours. Three marines were killed on board
the Defence, and six wounded. The San Ildefonso had been
engaged by several ships before the Defence came up ; and con-
sequently her loss was very great, having nearly a third of her
crew killed or wounded.

THUNDEREU AND DEFIANCE. 355

About 3 p. m. the Thunderer stood athwart the hawse of the
Principe de Asturias, and having raked her distantly, brought to
on the starboard tack. The Dreadnought had also opened her
fire on the three-decker, when the french Neptune came to her
assistance, and after engaging the Thunderer a short time, the
two ships, with others near them, bore away towards Cadiz. Two
marines were killed and one wounded on board the Thunderer.
The Principe de Asturias having contended with several oppo-
nents, her damages and loss were comparatively severe : she
had suffered so considerably, that her main and mizen-masts
went in the gale that ensued, and she had 40 men killed, and
107 badly wounded.

The Defiance, after engaging the Spanish admiral and the San
Juan, stood towards the Aigle, whose crippled state, from her
encounter wTith the Bellerophon, and then with the Revenge
and others, had prevented her from making sail ; and at 3 h.
p. m. she ran alongside, boarded with little resistance, and got
possession of the Aigle's poop and quarter-deck. The french
colours were hauled down, and when in the act of hoisting the
english in their stead, so destructive a fire of musketry was
opened upon the boarders from the forecastle, waist, and tops of
the Aigle, that the British were glad to escape back to their
ship. The Defiance having sheered off to the distance of pistol-
shot, a sharp action between the two ships continued for about
twenty minutes, when the Aigle being very much shattered, and
having: sustained a loss of 270 in killed and wounded, called for
quarter. On board the Defiance six marines were killed, and
nine wounded.

Having detailed the proceedings of the ships composing the
larboard division of the fleet, the operations of the column led
by the commander-in-chief will commence the next volume.

2 a 2

Corrigenda.

Vol. i. p. 137, for " Fourdroyant," read " Foudroyant."

Vol. ii. p. 214, line 7, after "killed," read the following: — "Lieute-
nant James Johns, who commanded the detachment of marines,
pulled on board the Chesapeake in the jolly-boat, to ascertain
the cause of the mistake in re-hoisting the American colours."

357

APPENDIX.

No. 1.

To the right-honourable the lords commissioners of the Admiralty.

The memorial of the lieutenant-colonels, majors, captains,
and subalterns of his Majesty's marine forces:

Humbly sheweth, — That in establishment, rank, promotion, and every
other circumstance, honorary as well as beneficial, the officers of the ma-
rines employed in the former war were exactly on the same footing with
the officers of other corps ; and had equal intercourse, by removals, ex-
changes, and sales with and into the army, as any other part thereof.
After their reduction in 1748, the half-pay marine officers were equally
considered, in point of right and favour, with other reduced officers of the
army, in consequence of which, many Of them have since risen to the
highest military ranks and honours ; and at the first formation of the
present body of marines, they had the most solemn assurances given them
by the then board of Admiralty, that they should be put on as advantage-
ous a footing as any other corps in his Majesty's service.

That, on the faith of these assurances, the officers with spirit and ala-
crity proceeded for years to do their duty every where, and upon all occa-
sions with general satisfaction, with honour to themselves and credit to
their country ; in the mean time the intercourse between the army and
themselves remained open, whereby several captains from the marines
have arrived at the rank of colonels, lieutenant-colonels, and majors in
the army ; the several ranks of colonel downwards, in their own corps,
were given amongst themselves, and therefore they went on without
repining in firm and daily expectation, that as respectable an establish-
ment as had been promised would be settled for them.

That, in the year 1760, on a representation from your lordships to the
King in council that more colonels were wanted for the better discipline
of the marines, a colonel, with the appointment of forty-shillings a-day,
was put upon the establishment of each of the three divisions ; but to the

358

APPENDIX.

unspeakable mortification of your memorialists, their own only marine
colonel was removed, and the commissions were given to three gentlemen
of the nary, who though very respectable in their own profession, yet,
their starting for the first time with a land command, were certainly not so
fit for conducting the discipline and detail of troops on shore as old, ex-
perienced military officers then in the marines, who from their services
and seniority were entitled to this rank : this step at once destroyed that
laudable spirit of emulation which is the soul and life of a soldier, and
without which he becomes languid and uninterested : by it all hopes of
future higher preferment than that of lieutenant-colonel are cut off from
your memorialists, whilst every officer in his Majesty's other corps can
look forward to the command of an army, and support himself with these
flattering hopes under the greatest distresses of service.

Your memorialists can with the strictest truth affirm, that Europe does
not afford an instance of a corps on so discouraging an establishment as
theirs; and therefore they humbly hope your lordships will take their un-
happy situation into consideration, and procure them such an establish-
ment as will put them on a more eligible footing, by making a provision
for superannuated and worn-out officers in the service, and appointing a
proportionate number of colonels and field-officers with the rest of the
army, which they flatter themselves may be done with a very little more
expense to government, will make nearly 300 officers happy, and will
greatly contribute to the better order and discipline of so large a body of
men without injury to any one.

No. 2.

By the commissioners for executing the office of lord high admiral
of Great Britain, Ireland, &c.

Whereas his Majesty by his order in council dated the 21st of Janu-
ary last, was pleased to direct a new establishment of his marine forces to
be formed, (a copy of which we send you enclosed,) consisting of seventy
companies, with sixteen field and staff officers, instead of the establish-
ment now in force, and that the same be forthwith carried into execution :
And we having in consequence thereof given directions that the recruiting
parties should be called in, and that all the detachments of marines serv-
ing on board ships under orders to be paid off should be disembarked to
quarters, in order to their being assembled, and reduced agreeable to his
Majesty's pleasure : We do therefore hereby require and direct you im7
mediately to repair to Chatham, where you are to cause all the officers
and men of the marine forces stationed at that port to be drawn out
under arms before you ; after which you are to proceed in reviewing the
whole, and discharging such of the non-commission officers and private
marines as hereafter directed, observing the following rules therein :

APPENDIX. 359

1. You are carefully lo review the officers present, and to transmit an
exact return of them to us ; you are likewise to cause a return of the ab-
sent officers to be laid before you, specifying how long they have been
absent, whether by leave or otherwise, and to report the same, together
with your observations thereupon. And we rely on your care and punc-
tuality, as well as upon your regard for the honour of the service, that
you will not omit to acquaint us with the merit of any officer in your
division who shall at any time have eminently distinguished himself,
that we may be enabled to express our just approbation thereof, and to
reward the same upon any occasion that shall offer ; on the other hand,
we must recommend it to you to be equally punctual in informing us of
the misbehaviour of any officer, whose bad example may reflect disgrace
upon the whole.

2. Having reviewed the non-commission officers and private men, and
taken an account of their condition and numbers, to be laid before us,
you are to proceed in discharging all such of them as shall appear to you
unfit to serve through infirmities or otherwise ; and also all above forty
years of age.

3. You are to take care that the quarters of each company be duly
satisfied, and also that all accounts between the non-commission officers
and private men hereby to be discharged and their officers be made up
to the day of their discharge ; and that the said non-commission officers
and private men be fully satisfied, and paid their sea-pay, arrears, and
other just pretensions ; whereof to the commissioner of his Majesty's yard
the said officers and deputy paymasters are to produce acquittances and
discharges from them respectively.

4. You are to take care that the arms of such marines as shall be dis-
charged, which were delivered out of his Majesty's stores of ordnance, be
returned into the charge of the store-keeper of the ordnance at Chatham,
taking his acquittances for the same.

5. Each non-commission officer and private marine discharged, is to be
permitted to carry away with him the clothes, belt, and knapsack he now
wears. They are likewise to be allowed twenty-one days' pay each,
from the date of their discharge, to carry them home, for which their
receipts are to be taken ; and you are also to cause passes to be delivered
to them, in case they shall desire the same, to the places of their former
residence, allowing them a convenient time to repair thither, and giving
them a strict charge that they do not presume to travel with any arms,
nor more than three in a company, upon pain of the severest punishment.

And to the end that the said non-commission officers and private men
may be sensible of the care taken of them on this occasion, you are to
cause these our directions to be read at the head of the said corps.

At the same time you will please to acquaint all the officers and men,
that we desire to return our thanks to them and the marine corps in
general, for the signal good conduct and bravery shown by them on all

360 APPENDIX.

occasions during the course of the war ; and for the share they have had
in the many eminent and meritorious services performed by the fleet and
army for their King and country, which has always been highly sa-
tisfactory to us.

Given under our hands the 12th of March, 1763.

George Grenville,
G. Hay,
To the Right-Hon. Lord Howe, 8fc. James Harris.

Colonel of Marines.

No. 3.

Admiralty Office, April 26th, 1763.

Sir,

The King having done me the honour to appoint me one of the
commissioners for executing the office of his lord high admiral, and my
attendance at the marine head-quarters of the division being therefore dis-
pensed with, 1 send you enclosed, for your better information, the orders
issued under the late commission of the admiralty that yet remain unex-
ecuted in part ; and to the contents of which you may be referred occa-
sionally, in my absence from quarters in future.

I am at the same time authorized to declare, for the information of the
officers of the division, that by the resolution respecting the time of ab-
sence proposed to be allowed them upon their application occasionally, the
lords do not mean to restrain themselves from granting such further ex-
tension of that indulgence, as from the nature of the case in any particular
instance they may see fitting; wherein the officers wall perceive their
ground of apprehension on that head will be, in all reasonable degree,
removed.

I have it moreover in charge to signify to you, that you are to direct the
several officers now at the head-quarters at Chatham to repair to the dif-
ferent divisions, according as they are respectively classed in the enclosed
lists, where their commissions will be sent to them, and to which they are
in future to belong.

You will also please to make known to the officers appointed to your
division as they arrive, that their applications to the board of Admiralty
occasionally, are in future to be made through the commanding officer for
the time being, as the person best able to judge of, and state to the board,
the merit of their claims.

I am, &c.
To Col. Bendyahe, or the Commanding Howe.

Officer of Marines at Chatham.

APPENDIX. 361

No. 4.

To the right-honourable the Earl Sandwich, &c. &c

The memorial of the field-officers, captains, and subalterns
of his Majesty's marine forces :

Most humbly sheweth, — That we are impressed with sentiments of
the greatest respect and gratitude for the many marks of your lordship's
patronage and support ; and relying on the assurances of your great con-
descension and kindness, though we are restrained by gratitude, we cannot
in justice to ourselves as military men, omit the present occasion of most
humbly laying our case before your lordship. The recent and second
promotion of rank which our most gracious Sovereign has so generously
bestowed upon his land officers, and his marine corps not enjoying his
royal favour in the same manner, are events which deeply affect us as mi-
litary men, and fill our breasts with the most anxious concern and mortifi-
cation; and though, from the establishment of our service, the promotion
is slow, yet we humbly hope our length of faithful services, and our rank,
will be considered an equal plea to partake of the preferment with his
Majesty's land forces, artillery, and engineers.

We cannot but hope that the services of the marine corps on all occa-
sions, and in the present unnatural rebellion in America, has met with the
approbation of his Majesty, so as to entitle them to every mark of his dis-
tinguishing favour with his other officers, with whom he has been graci-
ously pleased to enrol us. The officers of the marine corps are the oldest
of their rank now serving in America, or elsewhere ; and while they are
risking their lives and fortunes in the service of their country, they will
have the great mortification to find they are precluded from his Majesty's
royal favour, while officers on the same service, of not half their stand-
ing in the army, arrive at the rank of field-officer.

These afflicting truths your memorialists most humbly hope will incite
your lordship's kind representation and interposition in their favour, en-
treating your lordship to lay their case at his Majesty's feet, craving
they may be partakers of his royal bounty with his other officers of
equal rank, which only can enable them to perform their duty with that
spirit, courage, order, and good discipline that ever characterized ma-
rine officers.

The following letter from colonel Mackenzie accompanied the me-
morial : —

Chatham, September 4th, 1777.
My Lord,

The memorial I have the honour of enclosing you with
this, contains no other than candid truths, joined to the most just and
reasonable requests ; as such, I am to beseech your lordship's earliest and

362 APPENDIX.

most friendly attention to its prayer, as what will for ever hereafter
render the marine service either acceptable or desirable for any officer
of worth or spirit.

Your lordship's benevolent compliance will, if possible, still further
endear your former goodness to them and me, who am, with the most
sincere respect,

Your lordship's obedient humble servant,

John Mackenzie.
To the Right Hon. the Earl of Sandwich.

No. 5.
To the right-honourable the lords commissioners of the Admiralty.

The memorial unanimously agreed to by the officers of his
Majesty's marine forces :

Most humbly sheweth, — That your memorialists trust their services
to their king and country have been as zealous and as faithful as any
other of his Majesty's forces.

That your memorialists have it singularly and grievously to feel, that
the service of the marines labours under a great many disadvantages not
felt by any other corps in his Majesty's service. That they alone, of all
his Majesty's forces, are without that establishment necessary to give ani-
mation to their service. That they are without an adequate proportion of
field-officers, and an invalid provision for their worn-out officers. That
they have not had, in common with the army, any of their death vacancies
filled up by the serving corps, all casualties having been supplied from
the half-pay.

Your lordships' wisdom must easily discern between the services of a
corps animated by prospects of rank and honour, and the services of a
corps acting solely on the principles of duty.

Your memorialists consider themselves as much entitled to your lord-
ships' protection as his Majesty's royal navy, as the line to that of the
commander-in-chief, or as the royal engineers to that of their present
master-general.

Your memorialists trust their most gracious Sovereign need but know
their grievances to redress them; they are alike confident of his royal
favour, and the gratitude of their country ; and finally, your memorialists
are persuaded, that your lordships' favourable attention only is wanting
to give effect to their prayer ; and in the humble hope that they shall
obtain your lordships' good offices, your memorialists place their confi-
dence of support and relief.

APPENDIX. 363

A copy of this letter was sent to lord Chatham, with the following letter:
My Lord,

The memorial we have the honour to transmit to your lord-
ship, it has been judged most proper to render as concise as possible
in its appearance before the board at which your lordship presides ; but as
it involves in its detail much important matter, we solicit your lordship's
attention whilst we explain more at large the grounds on which we prefer
our prayer : indeed we feel it a duty, at the time we look to your lordship
as our rightful patron, to make you more fully acquainted with those
grievances of which we hope a redress.

In former wars the 'officers of marines were established on an equality
with those of the line ; they had an equal intercourse with them by sale
and exchange of commissions. At the reduction in 1748 the half-pay offi-
cers of marines were considered as reduced officers of the army, and in con-
sequence many of them have since attained the highest rank and command.

The first fifty companies of marines, raised in 1733, consisted mostly of
experienced officers of the line and former marines, and received assur-
ances from the then board of Admiralty, that they should be placed on as
advantageous a footing as the marching regiments ; however, at the end
of the war they found that these assurances were unfulfilled, and from the
circumscribed establishment on the peace of 1763, the service was ren-
dered so far from respectable, that great discontent ensued ; many officers
solicited half-pay ; memorial followed memorial to the board, without
effect ; all emulation was destroyed, the spirit of discipline was at an end,
a heavy languor continued in every rank of the corps, till the earl of Sand-
wich came to the head of the board in 1770. His lordship received their
memorial with favour, and accounting their complaints just, very soon be-
gan to relieve them : the spirit of the corps, relying on their patron, revived
in proportion, and their discipline soon became an object of admiration. His
lordship, pleased with a corps that had improved under his protection,
sent two battalions to the American war. Their behaviour during the
course of the late war, serving in their double capacity on board and on
shore, and their adherence to their duty at the conclusion of it, need not
be particularly pointed out to your lordship : you in part witnessed it, the
records of the Admiralty can fully attest it. At the close of the late war,
the corps began to feel themselves neglected : a claim was more than once
preferred by some officers, who in a former brevet-promotion had been
omitted, but ineffectually ; the vacancies of the corps, (even of those
slain in battle,) when peace was determined on, were not filled up, not-
withstanding all vacancies in the army (even in the youngest corps) were
filled up, and very considerable promotion in the navy took place. But
lord Keppel could not have adverted to that hardship, for he soon after,
in an instance glorious to his memory, showed a mind superior to oppres-
sion ; and judging the army an example for his conduct towards the

364 APPENDIX.

marines, seconded an officer upon them, not more respectable for his high
rank than his character: his lordship's reduction was to the same esta-
blishment as had been fixed for the corps in 1771 by the earl of Sand-
wich; from that, and the instance alluded to, the marines believed that,
under his lordship's auspices, they should one day obtain what remained
to be done for them.

The corps continued to be trained with assiduity and spirit, till the
reduction caused by viscount Howe in March 1786 took place. It was
bitter, my lord, to part with officers who had commanded us in detach-
ment and in battalion, with credit and honour, whom we loved as men
and admired as officers ; but it was more severe to have so unjust a pro-
portion lopped off from the corps, by which it was so considerably ani-
mated. This reduction was attended with a circumstance still more cruel :
his lordship, in a personal address to them, saw it in such a point of view
as to delay his intentions nearly twelve months ; then (first promising a
compensation) carried them into execution. That compensation has never
since been heard of; but the establishment of the marines being after-
wards considered by his lordship unequal to the services required of
them, a serjeant to each company, and four new companies were added, so
that the field-officers' companies alone remained reduced, a circumstance
felt by every rank of officers as an unparalleled oppression.

The corps is dispirited ; even the private men, from the smallness of the
establishment, are harassed beyond example in time of peace, having sel-
dom two nights. Further, my lord, the corps feel themselves neglected in
not having shared his Majesty's royal favour, with all other corps, at the
appearance of hostilities, and during the commotions in Holland, when
every service under his Majesty received some promotion, some augmen-
tation, themselves excepted ; even the indulgence of leave of absence,
which they heretofore enjoyed equally with other corps, his lordship
restricted to six months (field-officers excepted), under pain of being put
on half-pay on not returning to quarters at the expiration of that period,
making no allowance for accident or want of health.

My lord, you are a soldier, and acquainted with the feelings that actuate
them. What can be expected from troops sensible of such impressions ?
They feel themselves contemptible, because they know they are rendered
less respectable in every point of view.

The services, my lord, of the marines are constant, peace or war ; their
quick transition from clime to clime naturally soon enfeebles them : no
corps can then more require an asylum for the disabled and worn out.
The royal navy have sinecure places, civil appointments, military govern-
ments, invalid retreats, &c. ; the line have sinecure places, civil appoint-
ments, military governments, invalid retreats, &c ; the royal artillery
their invalid battalion, and royal engineers as ample an invalid provision ;
but what has the marine veteran, when worn out in defence of his king
and country ? "The miserable pittance of half-pay !"

APPENDIX'. 365

Your lordship will undoubtedly hear it with surprise, that not one com-
mission has been signed for the marine service (except from the half-pay)
since the peace, notwithstanding the promotions in the army, navy, artil-
lery, and engineers.

What the memorial before your lordship prays is, that the grievances,
thus more fully stated, may by your lordship's wisdom and favour be so
represented to our most gracious Sovereign, as to obtain a due measure of
redress ; that in proportion to the strength of the corps it may be com-
pleted with field-officers, whom we humbly conceive may be as usefully
employed in this corps as in any other, from the necessity of their attend-
ing the constant discipline at each of the head-quarters, by distributing
them to regulate in the several recruiting districts, and by embarking them
according to the strength of detachments serving on board each fleet,
which would certainly be of the greatest benefit to the service, and give
the corps due respectability when occasionally landed to co-operate with
the line.

That the corps may obtain rank in the line, whenever their services
require it, from the first establishment in 1755.

The memorial further prays an invalid establishment, formed in your
lordship's wisdom, and proportioned to the contingencies the corps is
subject to.

That the serving officers may be partakers in promotion.

It prays that all ranks of marine officers may enjoy leave of absence
under the same liberal indulgence as other corps.

And, my lord, permit us to hope, that the magnanimity of his Majesty
will not suffer his marine forces to be alone aggrieved, alone oppressed.
Will not, my lord, our country equally bear the expense of those troops
who equally fought her battles ?

My lord, believe it, that the marine service is in general reduced to a
service of mere necessity ; the present officers have only served too long
to seek with advantage other professions : their case is hard,— it wants
but representation; they trust it to your lordship's wisdom and your
lordship's feelings.

We are, with the highest respect, in name of the whole corps,
Your lordship's most obedient servants,
Henry Smith, ~\
A. T. Collins, > Commandants.
W. Carruthers. )

The Right Hon. the Earl of Chatham.

366 APPENDIX.

No. 6.

To the right-honourable the earl of Chatham, first lord of the Admiralty.

The memorial of the officers of his Majesty's marine forces :

Humbly sheweth, — That many of your memorialists, from age, long
services, and infirmities acquired in foreign climates, are rendered incapa-
ble of doing their duty agreeable to their wishes ; and to add to their mor-
tification, the present establishment affords not one comfortable retreat
for the most deserving.

The memorialists have likewise the additional mortification of finding
themselves excluded from the advantages all former marine officers en-
joyed ; your memorialists do not even benefit from the stoppages they
have continued to pay from the first establishment of the present corps in
1755, under the denominations of Chelsea Hospital. Your memorialists
beg leave to observe, that every military branch has now an established
retreat for the worn-out officers.

The present master-general of the ordnance, his grace the duke of
Richmond, found the corps of engineers in a similar situation to that your
memorialists are now in. Humanity, and the rectitude of the measure, in-
duced his grace to make a proper establishment, by selecting the young
and healthy to do the executive part of the duty.

Relying on the justness of our application, we, whose names are here-
unto subscribed, in behalf of the officers of the corps, most humbly en-
treat your lordship's protection; and we flatter ourselves your lordship
will think our services merit an establishment for our worn-out officers,
equally with every other part of his Majesty's forces by sea and land.

No. 7.

To the earl of Chatham, first lord of the Admiralty.

The memorial of his Majesty's marine corps on full pay :

Humbly sheweth, — That your memorialists are impressed with the
deepest sense of gratitude for the many liberal proofs they have experi-
enced of your lordship's generous patronage and protection.

The objects for promotion extended by the establishment of the field-
officers ; the prospects for the young and active advanced ; those worn out
by length of service rewarded by the comfortable provision made for the
aged and infirm ; the determination that every officer shall take rank and
promotion in the corps from the date of his last commission, as in the case
of colonel Spry ; the promotion that has taken place under your lordship's
auspices, have all tended to excite a spirit of exertion throughout every

APPENDIX. 367

rank, and must naturally be productive of advantage to his Majesty's
service.

These objects, so flattering to the serving corps, have attracted the
notice and attention of those officers on the half-pay list, who threw them-
selves into that situation, or were compelled for particular reasons to em-
brace it, prior or subsequent to the reduction in 1783, and many have
avowed an intention of soliciting full-pay again, with a view of sharing
those advantages, which the serving corps has been considered by your
lordship so justly to merit. Your memorialists, with great submission,
beg leave to observe, that should these solicitations have effect, the cap-
tains, lieutenants, and subalterns who have been constantly serving with-
out promotion in any instance since the peace, will have to look forward to
a period still more dreary and uncertain than ever : a circumstance aggra-
vated by the sanguine hopes they entertained, that when the officers
reduced at the peace in 1783 were provided for, they would certainly suc-
ceed to all vacancies in the serving corps. Your memorialists presume to
observe to your lordship, that the practice of bringing such officers from
the half-pay list, at the same time that it is discouraging and injurious to
the serving corps, has never been found of any advantage to the service ;
they will not, however, attempt to point out the trouble that such appli-
cations, when countenanced, must occasion your lordship, or any future
board of Admiralty, and the constant alarm that must agitate the corps
\>y the return of officers to the service so circumstanced ; but they beg
leave to submit to your lordship, that should purchase and sale of com-
missions be allowed in the marine service, the officers on half-pay might
be admitted, by paying to the officers they exchanged with the difference
between full and half-pay, and be placed last for promotion in their respec-
tive ranks, which your memorialists conceive would be a fair compensation,
considering the short period they have actually served. And your me-
morialists further presume to hope, that your lordship will see the pro-
priety of placing all officers upon the marine list according to the dates of
their last commissions, which will give universal satisfaction to the corps
and demonstrate that the rule of promotion which your lordship has so
justly established, is carried into complete effect.

Relying on that liberality with which your lordship has treated their
just requests, and your perfect knowledge of military rules, your memo-
rialists are happy in submitting their situation to your favourable atten-
tion ; resting on the hope, that your lordship will not admit those officers
into the service again who solicited or chose to remain on half-pay for
various reasons, or who were indulged with that alternative for causes of
too serious a nature to be inserted in this memorial ; and that your lord-
ship will be pleased to direct officers to be placed on the marine list
agreeable to the date of their last commissions.

368

APPENDIX.

No. 8.

To the right-honourable earl Spencer.

The memorial of his Majesty's marine forces :

Humbly sheweth, — That your memorialists trust their services to
their king and country have been as zealous and faithful as any other
of his Majesty's forces. They have it singularly and grievously to feel,
that the service of the marines labours under a great many disadvantages
not felt by other corps in his Majesty's service. They consider them-
selves as much entitled to your lordship's protection as his Majesty's royal
navy, as the line to that of the commander-in-chief, or as the royal artil-
lery and engineers to that of the master-general of the ordnance. Your
memorialists have the mortification to find, that when equally engaged
in fighting the battles of their country with his Majesty's other officers,
they alone are precluded from a share of the royal favour.

Your lordship's wisdom will easily discern between the services of a
corps animated by prospects of rank and honour, and the services of a
corps acting solely on the principles of duty. Your memorialists cannot
but trust, that their country is disposed to be equally liberal in its pro-
vision for their service as for that of any other corps, and therefore hope
that their long and faithful services may entitle them to partake of prefer-
ment equally with his Majesty's royal navy, army, and royal artillery.
They conceive that an extension of the invalid establishment, an augmen-
tation of field-officers, and promotion of the subalterns who served during
the last war, would materially tend to remove their present grievances,
and enable them to perform their duty with that spirit, order, and good
discipline which have ever characterized his Majesty's marine forces.

The subalterns of from fifteen to seventeen years' standing submit their
present hopeless case to your lordship's feelings.

Your memorialists submit to your lordship's consideration the propriety
of holding out to marines a bounty equal to that of other corps, by which
they may be able to complete, with dispatch, any augmentation his
Majesty may be pleased to grant. That, finally, your memorialists are
persuaded that your lordship's favourable attention only is wanting to give
effect to their prayer. And in humble hope that they will obtain your
lordship's good offices, your memorialists place their confidence of support
and relief.

No. 9.

To the right-honourable the earl Spencer, first lord-commissioner of
the Admiralty.

The memorial of the officers of his Majesty's marine forces :

Humbly sheweth, — That your memorialists, conscious that zeal and

APPENDIX. 369

loyalty have ever actuated their service, presume to entreat your lordship's
attention to the senior officers of the corps.

That your memorialists, viewing the vote of Parliament for the service
of the present year, are led to hope there is an ample provision to fulfil
their utmost expectations, and confide in your lordship's justice, acknow-
ledged zeal, and liberality, that those captains whose commissions are
dated in 1778, and subalterns of 1779, who are grown old in expectation
of that promotion which is the object of our present solicitation, may not
be left a prey to disappointment, after steady and faithful services of
thirty-five and seventeen years. Your memorialists experience a most
singular mortification at being deprived of that rank in the line, which
they trust their faithful and steady services would well justify.

That your memorialists therefore humbly hope, through your lordship's
favourable representation and influence with their royal master, that their
services may be animated with some portion of his Majesty's most gra-
cious favour.

That, finally, your memorialists are persuaded your lordship's good
offices only are wanting to give effect to their prayer, and in the hope they
shall obtain your lordship's countenance they place their confidence
of support.

No. 10.

Horse Guards, '25th May, 1797-
Sir,

I have field-marshal the duke of York's commands to acknow-
ledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd instant, with its enclosures, for
which communication his royal highness desires that you will be pleased
to accept his best thanks. His royal highness has felt great satisfaction
at the highly praiseworthy conduct of the division of marines under your
command, in having in such proper terms evinced their detestation and
abhorrence of the vile acts that are now practising by wicked incendiaries
with a view to shake the allegiance of the soldiery. But his royal high-
ness trusts that the honourable example set by the Chatham division of
marines will be followed by every individual of their brother-soldiers, and
that the british army will, to the latest period, preserve its love and attach-
ment to their king and country, and that they will be as desirous to dis-
tinguish themselves for their loyalty, as they have ever been emulous to
excel all other nations in courage when opposed to the enemy.

I have the honour to be, &c.

Robert Brownrigg.

Major-General Innes, Commanding
Chatham Division of Marines.

VOL. I. 2 B

370 APPENDIX.

Admiralty Office, 23rd May, 1797-
Sir,

I have received and communicated to my lords commissioners

of the Admiralty your letter to me of yesterday's date, enclosing a printed
hand-bill which appears to have been distributed amongst the marines at
Chatham under your command, and an answer thereto, which had been
transmitted to you signed by the non-commissioned officers of the division
now in barracks at that place ; and I have it in command from their lord-
ships to acquaint you, that they view with great satisfaction the spirit, and
loyalty and zeal so strongly manifested by the non-commissioned officers
and privates of that division, and which it is their direction you should
communicate to them in a proper manner.

I have at the same time the pleasure to add, that their lordships fully
approve of all your proceedings on the occasion,

And have the honour to be, sir, &c,

Evan Nepean.
Major-General Innes, Chatham.

No. II.

To the right-honourable the lords commissioners of the Admiralty.

The memorial of the senior captains of his Majesty's royal
marine forces :
Most humbly sheweth, — That your memorialists, members of a corps
which forms a considerable portion of the national force at the present
crisis of extended hostility, presume to obtrude their feelings and hopes
on the notice of your right-honourable board, for to your lordships your
memorialists must ever look up as to their constitutional guardians and
protectors, and in whose justice they repose the fullest confidence.

Under these impressions, your memorialists beg to state to your lord-
ships that the forty-nine senior captains of marines, who entered the ser-
vice during the American war, many of them as early as 1778 and 1779,
have served seventeen and eighteen years as subalterns, in addition to
twelve and thirteen as captains. Thus circumstanced, your memorialists
trust it will not excite surprise that they should express the severe morti-
fication they feel in contrasting their situation with that of officers of other
corps, who, with fewer years standing in the service, have attained and
continue to attain considerable rank, with its attendant advantages.

Your memorialists have earnestly to entreat that your lordships will not
ascribe to any improper motive their adducing the corps of royal artillery
and royal engineers in proof of their assertion : in those corps (whose
constitution with regard to promotion is exactly similar with that of the
marines,) officers who have entered the service long after the first twenty-
four captains on the marine list, have some time since been field-officers,
and many of them lieutenant-colonels.

APPENDIX.

371

But besides this protraction of promotion, which your memorialists have
grievously to lament, they feel a redoubled severity when they reflect they
are almost without a hope of ever attaining any higher rank in the corps,
while they daily witness the promotion of their juniors in every other
branch of his Majesty's service.

The hardships of your memorialists' case will appear with still greater
force, when it is considered that from the lapse of so many of their best
years in the service of their country, they are necessarily deprived of that
consolatory hope which time and some future changes in the corps may
afford to their juniors. Such is the situation of your lordships' memo-
rialists, while every subaltern officer and soldier throughout his Majesty's
forces derive advantage from length of service.

Stimulated by the severe pressure of the circumstances which mark
their case, and while it is with reluctance they intrude at the present
moment, your memorialists, confiding in the candour and liberality of
your lordships, indulge a hope that you will take their case into serious
consideration, and grant them such relief as your lordships shall deem it
to deserve.

In the name and behalf of the old captains,

(Signed) William Henry Boys,

18/A March, 1808. Senior Captain.

No. 12.

To the right-honourable the lords commissioners of the Admiralty.

The memorial of the second-commandants, field-officers, and
senior captains of royal marines :
Humbly showeth, — That they have grievously to lament that the
length of their services has been entirely overlooked in the late augmen-
tation of the corps. The field-officers had been induced to hope, that the
late memorial of the senior captains would have drawn the attention of
the board to the forlorn situation of the superior ranks in the corps, when
they had every reason to expect, for all the vigour and prime of their lives
so exhausted in the service of their country, that some ample reward in
the line of promotion would have been granted them, especially at a time
when every other part of his Majesty's forces has been properly attended
to and rewarded.

Your memorialists feel the proud distinction of forming an essential
branch of the royal navy, and can never consider their services of inferior
value to the state to those of any other corps in his Majesty's service ;
and they looked forward with confidence that the late promotion in the
royal navy was the prelude to one in the higher classes in the royal
marines. The only corps that your memorialists can assimilate them-

2 b 2

372 APPENDIX.

selves to are the royal artillery and. royal engineers, to both of which
they have, during the late and present war, become much inferior, as well
in rank and appointment as in every thing that can stimulate the pride
and attention of a soldier.

Your memorialists will never regret that deserving officers of the royal
navy are rewarded by nominal appointments on their establishment ; yet
they cannot but feel they have a claim to participate in such honourable
remuneration for distinguished services.

Your memorialists therefore trust that their lordships will humbly re-
present to his Majesty the extreme mortification that the senior part of
the faithful and loyal marine officers experienced on the late augmentation
of the corps, when their services were unfortunately overlooked, and en-
treat his Majesty to grant such appointments as may reward lives spent in
his service. They are properly sensible of and grateful to his Majesty for
the honour he condescended to bestow on them in making them a royal
corps ; and they are so fully confident of his Majesty's gracious and good
intentions at all times to reward the services of the royal marines, that
their grievances need only to be properly brought before his Majesty by
your lordships to obtain every redress they merit. And as there are ap-
pointments of general, lieutenant-general, and major-general of marines
to reward the services of distinguished naval officers ; they trust that, as
next in consequence, they may have a lieutenant-general and two major-
generals appointed from the corps, and the same allowances with those
of that rank in the royal navy ; and that the commandants of divisions
(to meet the expense of the present times) may be put upon the same
footing with those of the royal artillery ; that the field-officers and
staff of the royal marines may have the same allowances as are granted to
every other field and staff officer in his Majesty's service ; and that the
pay-captains of royal marines may have the same allowances for the pay-
ment of the grand divisions as are granted to the captains of the royal
artillery.

(Signed by)
A. Burn, T. Davey, R. Lee,

W. H.Boys, R.H.Foley, T.Guildford,

D. Balunghall, R. Smith, F. Williams.

Sir,

No. 13.

Admiralty Office, July 5th, 1814.

My lords commissioners of the Admiralty observing that many
marines who have been discharged from his Majesty's service, from time
to time attend at this office as candidates for the out-pension of Greenwich
Hospital who, not being " worn out and become decrepid in the service of
their country," are not entitled thereto, and that their proper age and

APPENDIX. 373

cause of their discharge are frequently very inaccurately stated, I have
their lordships' command, with a view to prevent the said men being put
to unnecessary trouble and expense, to signify their directions to you, to
acquaint such marines as may from time to time be discharged from your
division, that they cannot be allowed pensions unless they come within the
description above mentioned ; and you are to cause the proper age and
real cause of discharge of the said men to be stated ; forbearing in future
to insert therein any recommendation to the benefits of the said hospital,
to prevent the possibility of disappointment, their lordships being dis-
posed at all times to give due consideration to their respective cases.

I am, Sir, &c.

No. 14.

To the right-honourable the lords commissioners of the Admiralty.

The memorial of the field-officers and senior captains of his
Majesty's royal marine forces :
Most humbly showeth, — That your memorialists have served longer
to obtain the rank they at present hold in the corps than any officer in
his Majesty's service ; many of the senior captains having served thirty-
one years and upwards during the course of those wars, and who are still
without a prospect of promotion. Yet, as your memorialists presume to
look forward to a reward for their services upon an increase of the estab-
lishment of the corps, they trust that when your lordships may recommend
it to his Majesty in council to form the large body of supernumeraries
(now attached to the corps) into companies, that you will at the same time
be pleased to bring the length of service of that class of officers under his
Majesty's gracious consideration, and recommend the establishment of two
field-officers to every three thousand men in the corps, that not being half
the proportion of field-officers in the army or artillery.

The senior field-officers are fully sensible of and grateful for the pro-
motion conferred on them, and the increase of pay to the commandants ;
but should your lordships consider the services of the present senior field-
officers deserving any further reward, they trust that your lordships will
recommend the appointment of one second commandant to every two
thousand men ; which would either give promotion, or place as resident
captains of divisions all those captains who have served during those
wars, and who now continue to serve as such in every part of the
world.

Your memorialists are aware it may be urged, that there is not any
mode of employing any more commandants and field-officers ; but the
services of all are at the disposal of the board of Admiralty, and they are

374 APPENDIX.

all anxious to be actively employed, and to have their services adequately
rewarded ; whereas a colonel in the line with the rank of general, colonels
and colonels-commandant of the royal artillery (unless upon the staff),
are not required to do any duty.

In the navy, in the army, in the royal artillery, and royal engineers,
your memorialists could enumerate various appointments unconnected
with the officers of those corps, by which the services of old and me-
ritorious officers are rewarded. The royal marines alone are without any
such appointments, or any superior staff; and as they are persuaded that
their services are as useful to the state as any other body of men, they
trust that they will not longer remain unrewarded.

Your memorialists appeal to your lordships with peculiar confidence as
perfect judges of what meritorious officers may deserve after such a series
of constant service, by which the health and constitution of all have in
some degree been impaired.

Your memorialists rely upon your lordships' liberality, and trust that
when their services are compared with those of other corps, or with those
of the civil branch of the department over which your lordships preside,
they will be considered deserving of an equal reward.

In a full persuasion that the humble petition of your memorialists will
meet with your lordships' favourable consideration, and the approbation
of their Sovereign, &c. &c.

No. 15.

To the right-honourable the lords commissioners of the Admiralty.

The memorial of the field-officers and senior captains of his
Majesty's royal marine forces:

Humbly sheweth, — That the corps to which they belong, an integral
part of the royal navy, is now and ever has been conspicuous for its eminent
services to the state, which the marked approbation of the various supe-
rior officers whom it has since its institution served under, if such reference
were required to establish a well-known fact, would amply testify ; that
notwithstanding this, and the honourable distinction of "Royal " lately
conferred on it by his Majesty, in reward of its zealous and very merito-
rious services, it is still unquestionably held in a state of unexampled
depression, reducing it far beneath the level of any other regular military
establishment ; and in proof of this assertion your memorialists, with all
due deference to your lordships, beg leave to submit, that the causes pro-
ductive of this depreciated effect are as follows, and until they cease to
operate, their condition cannot possibly, in any shape, be materially ame-
liorated.

The causes of the corps' depression are, that although consisting of up-

APPENDIX. 375

wards of 30,000 men, it alone of all his Majesty's forces is destitute of a
superior staff, and consequently both of that respectability it confers, and
those remunerations which are bestowed upon the line, the royal artillery,
and the royal engineers. That it is the only one whose post, when acting
with the line, is equivocal and undefined, and wherein officers, by imposed
restraints, are restricted to the exercise of mere regimental rank, notwith-
standing their commissions, signed by the king and entered at the war-
office for the purpose of giving them rank with the line, authorize their
asserting their claims to command in any garrison, or elsewhere, when
such command should by seniority devolve upon them ; and what renders
this recently-introduced exclusion of their corps from the most material
and valuable privilege of the profession peculiarly grating to their feelings
is, that prior to the distinguished notice of his Majesty it was in the full
and unquestionable possession of a right common to every military body,
without even excepting the militia or honourable East India Company's
service. Whereas, the now royal marine corps, deprived of that for which
in the estimation of professional men there can be no equivalent, and sub-
jected in consequence thereof to repeated galling humiliations, has the
mortification of beholding its laurels shaded, and its Sovereign's gracious
approbation overcast by a most extraordinary and unaccountable exclu-
sion from that chain of command in which it was recently comprehended,
and this its insulated condition rendered doubly painful by frequently
viewing, not only junior officers of regular corps, but even of the militia,
assuming those temporary commands at its respective head-quarters in
the absence of the generals or the staff, which its veteran officers have an
indisputable right, by their superior rank, to exercise. That it is the
only corps in the king's service where officers are eligible to nothing but
regimental staff appointments, and there is none beside it so limited in its
number of field-officers as to almost bar the door of promotion against its
junior captains, who, grown grey in the service, have served their country
three wars, and in every climate.

Under such peculiar degrading mortifications, disadvantages, and dis-
abilities, which exclusively operate on a corps whose distinguished ser-
vices have attracted the notice of its Sovereign, your memorialists must
ever feel depressed ; and they cannot refrain from expressing their firm
belief, that the aggregate of their situation imposed upon a military
body deserving of censure instead of commendation, would be deemed a
most exemplary punishment. And here they pause to lament and de-
plore ; glorying however in their attachment to a corps constituting an
important branch of England's best defence, that its very annexation to
the royal navy should seem, as it were, to plunge it into obscurity, rather
than, as it ought, to raise it into consequence.

Your memorialists having now submitted to your right-honourable
board the most prominent features of their grievances which bear exclu-
sively upon them alone, together with their corps' depression, the causes

376

APPENDIX.

of which are but too glaring, most earnestly entreat your lordships to lay
them before his Majesty, who, when their unparalleled situation is known,
will, they confidently trust, be graciously pleased to direct that his faith-
ful, zealous, and loyal corps of Marines shall be placed on a footing
and raised to a level with the rest of the forces of this realm. And
towards the attainment of this but just and equitable end, your memo-
rialists express a hope that your lordships, as their patrons, may be
pleased to advise, that the senior commandant, resident in London, may
be placed on the staff with such suitable establishment as his rank entitles
him to ; that the commandants of divisions, having the rank of general
officers, who are of sixty and fifty years standing in the service, may be
allowed to retire on the same pay as is enjoyed by the naval marine-gene-
rals; that the next in seniority may succeed to their vacancies; and that
such a number of additional field-officers be added to the corps as to pro-
mote their senior captains, whose services, had chance thrown them into
the royal artillery instead of the marines, would long since have been
remunerated with lieutenant-colonelcies.

No. 16.

Minutes of the board of Admiralty relative to the royal marine artillery.

clause v.

We now beg leave to call the attention of your royal highness to the
companies of royal marine artillery.

These companies were formed, one at each division, in 1804, for the pur-
pose, in the first instance, of supplying the service of his Majesty's bomb-
vessels, before that time performed by the royal artillery ; but it was also
intended that these companies should, particularly in time of peace, be
employed at the respective divisions in drilling the whole of the marines
in gunnerj'. We are so well satisfied of the great utility of having a con-
siderable body of marines trained to gunnery, that we are inclined to
recommend that the royal marine artillery be increased to eight com-
panies, as well for the purpose of encouraging and training the other
marines, as to enable us to embark a certain number of well-trained artil-
lery-men in others of his Majesty's ships as well as in the bombs, expe-
rience having proved the great advantage to be derived to the service from
this practice, which has been tried of late to a small extent.

We therefore humbly propose to your royal highness to be pleased to
sanction the establishment of eight companies of royal marine artillery ;
but in order that the whole establishment may not exceed what your royal
highness was pleased to declare to be a fit peace establishment of marines,
we humbly propose to transfer a certain number of officers and men from
the ordinary marines to the artillery respectively, which we think proper

APPENDIX. 377

for the present period; by which the corps will consist of eighty companies,
of which eight will be artillery. This measure, which will give great effi-
ciency to the corps of marines, and to use the expression of the original
promoters of the marine artillery, double its utility both ashore and afloat,
will be very inconsiderable, if any expense to the public ; because we have
proposed to reduce an equivalent number of marines, and shall submit
some further reductions in the number of officers attached to the artillery
companies ; and in time of war a further diminution of expense from what
it would be under the present system will, if your royal highness shall
be pleased to adopt our suggestions, arise from the following circumstances :

The royal artillery, when embarked in bombs, had certain advantages
granted them in consideration, we presume, of being taken out of their
natural course of shore service ; these advantages the royal marine artil-
lery have claimed and hitherto enjoyed, under, we think, an erroneous
construction of his Majesty's order in council, establishing the pay and
allowances of these companies.

It is evident, that however just it was to grant these allowances to the
royal artillery when removed from their ordinary duties, it was certainly
unnecessary to give them to the marine artillery, whose natural course of
service it was to embark, and which, in fact, was formed for this special
purpose. We trust, therefore, that your royal highness will see the ex-
pediency of correcting this error at this favourable opportunity, when
it can be done without any immediate injury to individuals, because at
present none of the marine artillery are embarked, nor according to the
original regulation would they have been embarked in time of peace.
While we therefore propose to continue the increased shore pay, and to
encourage the artillery, and the corps in general, by doubling the number
who will receive this increased pay, we think we may fairly propose to
abolish the distant and contingent advantages of the extra sea pay, to
which in fact we doubt that any other right has hitherto existed than an
erroneous construction of his Majesty's order in council. We therefore
propose, that when the royal marine artillery shall embark, the sea pay of
all ranks shall bear to their pay on shore the same proportion that the sea
pay of the marines in general bears to their shore pay.

No. 17.
Copy of a letter from colonels Desborough and Tench to the right-
honourable Charles Yorke, first lord of the Admiralty : —

glR " 13th March, 1811.

We respectfully beg leave to introduce ourselves again to your

notice, and to solicit your further attention to the subject on which you

honoured us with a conference last September. Six months have since

378 APPENDIX.

elapsed, during which period we have anxiously expected that some
testimony of that approbation you were then pleased to express to us of
the services and general good conduct of the royal marines, would have
been conferred on the corps. This cheering anticipation has not been
confined within our own breasts ; as the advocate of our corps, at whose
request we made ourselves then prominent, we held it incumbent upon
us to communicate, through their commandants, to the officers of the seve-
ral divisions, not only a detail of the subject we had submitted to your con-
sideration, with your observations upon them, but likewise the more valu-
able and important account of those spontaneous views you were pleased
to take of the deficiencies of the marine services, when you graciously
suggested the practicability, and held out the prospect, of placing our
chief commandant and general officers commanding divisions on the staff,
and stated the public advantages which would arise from assigning to that
part of the corps stationed on shore, at the great naval depots, a share of
the garrison duties of those places. Such intimations naturally awakened
in the bosom of every marine officer the most sanguine and grateful emo-
tion, and when they called to mind in conjunction with them your former
favourable sentiments of their corps, and your flattering marks of atten-
tion to its interests when not a minister, it will not create surprise that
such impressions should cause them to reason with that ardour, which
promises itself the accomplishment of its object on finding a patron.
And yet it was not altogether from your most candid and obliging re-
ception of us and our representation that we presumed to deduce those
favourable conclusions, and to impart encouragement to our brother-
officers, but also, in a high degree, from the answer which the board of
Admiralty condescended to return to the memorial of the corps, which we
forwarded to them on taking our leave of you, after having previously
had the honour of presenting to you the copy of its contents. In that re-
ply their lordships were pleased to acquaint us that our application should
be taken into consideration. To the language of official communication
we are not strangers, nor unaware of official circumspection ; we know
that refusal is sometimes conveyed by silence, and disapprobation some-
times accompanied with rebuke ; but in this instance the style of their
lordships' letter, and the assurance it contains, justifies us in believing
that our appeal was regarded by them as neither frivolous nor intrusive.
We, who know from authority that this case is under consideration, natu-
rally look for a decision upon it. For half a year we have waited, and
continue to wait for this mark of favour, not less with painful anxiety
than respectful submission. And here, sir, permit us to remark to you,
that during so long a period of expectancy the royal marine corps, both
collectively and individually, have endeavoured to evince the highest
possible sense of deference for the public feeling and situation of your-
self and that great board under whom they serve, by observing the most
profound silence and exemplary forbearance on the merit of their cause

APPENDIX. 379

and probable attainment of their hopes, out of their own immediate circle.
Excepting amongst themselves, they have been scrupulously solicitous
not to agitate this subject, and by their prudent conduct have wholly
prevented its discussion in pamphlets and newspapers. Sensible of the
difficulties and embarrassments under which the executive government
has been placed from the lamented malady of their Sovereign, they have
forborne not only from complaint, but enquiry. Nevertheless, it were to
relinquish the best energies of our nature, and to stifle every military
feeling and recollection, if we did not distinctly but respectfully mark to
you, that the marines were more than disappointed when they found the
fifth anniversary (21st October, 1810,) of the glorious victory of Trafalgar
commemorated by a naval promotion only. But we should neither con-
vey the sentiments of our corps, nor execute our own intentions, if we
presumed to make this letter the vehicle of accusation : we aim but to
impress upon your mind the reasonableness and moderation of our pre-
tensions, and to entreat you, in pity to the limits of human patience, to
decide upon them. We humbly presume to hope that no obstacles which
may not be surmounted oppose the placing of our chief commandant, and
the commandants of divisions who are general officers, on the staff. All
these veterans have been in the service of their country more than fifty
years ; and yet their appointments are so scanty as to degrade their high
rank, by precluding them from the exercise of common hospitality in the
expensive quarters where they are stationed. If we turn our eyes to the
other departments of service, we behold five ordnance generals on the
staff at Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Chatham only ; on the other hand, we
recall military governments and lucrative appointments, partly civil, partly
military, bestowed on officers of the army. Towards our brethren of the
navy, what sentiments have we ever cherished but respect and good will?
and yet, without a wish to infringe on what they enjoy, can it be justly
affirmed that the marines are selfish or unreasonable, when they request
that those officers who perform all the real duties of marine service should
be placed on an equal footing of emolument with those who are but
nominal members of their establishment ? We shall advance yet a step
further, sir, and presume to ask whether a colonel of militia, commanding
a battalion of 1000 men, does not hold a more profitable appointment than
the commandant of a marine division? In recording the reflection arising
from the prospect of our performing garrison duty, if we should be found
rather prolix, we trust to your indulgence on a subject so near our hearts,
and inwoven with a review of our past lives and feelings. When the
inferior public consideration which as a body we receive on all occasions
is recollected, what but that ardent, innate bravery, which you did us the
honour to point out and commend, — that esprit du corps, which strings
every nerve and beats in every artery of a marine, could enable us to sus-
tain that reputation which is coeval with the establishment of our service.
We would have an academy similar to those at Marlowe, Woolwich, and

380 APPENDIX.

Portsmouth for the candidates of the navy, army, and artillery, where the
intellect may be cultivated, the sciences taught, and the principles fixed,
of the young persons who are introduced into our corps. They join head
quarters without any previous examination of their mental acquirements
or progress in education, where they are put through the ordinary drill
of a parade, on which perhaps not a hundred men are daily assembled,
and generally embark on naval duty in a few weeks after. Of the field
evolutions and regimental internal economy, they go away of course
almost entirely uninformed. In two or three years, or after a longer pe-
riod, they commonly rejoin their divisions, obtain leave to pay a short
visit to their friends, and are then ordered to repair to a recruiting quar-
ter, where they remain until their turn for sea duty again approaches.
During this interim they have no duties to perform, but the occasional
mounting a barrack guard, attendance at morning and evening roll calls,
and a nominal superintendence of their companies, whose real man-
agement is vested (and wisely) with stationary officers, — the pay cap-
tains ; who have an arduous task to fulfil, accompanied with a heavy
pecuniary responsibility, for the executing of which, they are worse paid
than a captain of militia.

Within this humble and circumscribed path are almost entirely restrict-
ed the duties of a marine officer on shore. Under circumstances of such
peculiar depression, suffer us to intrude upon you a description of our pri-
vate feelings and situation. A field-officer of marines, with rank, certainly
with as much zeal and ardour, and possibly with an equal share of talent
if not of practical acquirement with his brethren of the line or artillery,
is seen wandering round the fortifications of Portsmouth, Plymouth, and
Chatham, without object, interest, or employment ; if a foreigner or a
stranger of his own country, struck by a dress that is supposed to denote
a share of command and consequence, inquires of this nondescript charac-
ter the charge he sustains or the post he fills in the general scale of mili-
tary arrangement, he blushes, in acknowledging he has none, to expose the
state of insufficiency to which the injudicious regulations of service have
condemned him. Does a prince of the blood review the troops, and inspect
the works of the garrison ? He is not only an idle spectator of a scene in
which he ought to act, but is left almost without an avenue by which he
can approach royalty. At the levee of the governor he is never seen, and,
from not being under his command, has no right to feel offended that he
seldom partakes of his hospitality or, unless from personal considerations,
is never found at the tables of the general officers, — privations of too small
importance to cause one uneasy emotion if abstractedly regarded only, but
not devoid of consequence when viewed by a reference to those principles
by which, in some degree, the scale of rank and estimation in society is
measured; besides that it narrows the acknowledged privilege attached
to long and honourable military servitude of mingling with high rank,
and associating with distinguished character. Amidst these mortifying

APPENDIX. 381

humiliations, it has occasionally happened that our strength of officers
and men at head-quarters has nearly equalled that of all the other troops
within the lines of the place in which instance we form a most curious
and preposterous spectacle for military consideration, — a corps in the
heart of his garrison, almost as numerous as that appointed for its de-
fence, not subject to the orders and control of the governor. Well might
a former governor of Portsmouth demonstrate this anomalous body an
"imperium in imperio."

We draw, sir, towards an end, not without hoping that the fidelity of
the description will apologize for the familiarity of the detail we have fur-
nished. In conclusion, it becomes us to state, that although the tenour of
our letter is almost exclusively confined to the description of the two im-
portant positions laid down by yourself, and the reflections which unavoid-
ably accompanied them, yet we entreat, with equal earnestness and respect,
your attention to many other points set forth in the memorial of the
corps and our former letter to you. Our small artillery establishment
wants but a continuance of that regard it has hitherto experienced, and
an extension of its numbers, to become one of the most valuable appen-
dages of the royal navy. But the claims of the senior captains are para-
mount with us. All these gallant, neglected officers commenced their
career of service during the American war ; and those at the head of the
list have served their country between thirty and forty years, — a case
which we can confidently affirm is without precedent in the military his-
tory of Britain, and we believe we should not risk contradiction if we
marked it as unexampled in the military history of Europe. An appeal in
behalf of our Serjeants admitted into Greenwich Hospital being placed on
a footing with the Serjeants of the line at Chelsea, we conceive to be an
obligation due from us to those brave and useful men ; and the opulent
state of the funds of Greenwich Hospital justify us in asking for this ex-
tension of liberality towards our non-commission officers. It is a fact as
curious as unparalleled, that the commissioned officers of marines furnish
a day's pay towards the support of Chelsea Hospital, and a proportion of
their prize-money to that of Greenwich, without receiving any advantage
or emolument whatever from these great national institutions. One more
repetition were yet necessary, if in appealing to the magnanimity and dis-
interested government of Mr. Yorke all repetition were not superfluous :
should the plea of increased public expenditure be advanced against the
prayer of our petition, we have already pointed out the means by which
the argument can be obviated. If the marine establishment consisted of
one hundred second-lieutenants less than are found upon it, the public
service would not suffer by its diminution.

Mr. Yorke acknowledged the receipt of this letter to colonel Desbo-
rough, acquainting him that the subject thereof was still under the con-
sideration of the board of Admiralty, and there it still remains.

382 APPENDIX.

No. 18.

Singular illegal Sentence of a Naval Court-martial.

Lieutenant Frye of the marines, when serving on board a frigate in the
West Indies in 1743, was charged with contempt of orders, for having re-
fused, when ordered by his captain, to assist another lieutenant in tak-
ing an officer prisoner on board the ship ; the two lieutenants requesting
to have the order given in writing. For this, lieutenant Frye was tried at
Jamaica by a court-martial, and sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment,
besides being declared incapable of serving the king. He was brought
home, and his case (after being laid before the privy-council) appearing
in a justifiable light, he was released. Some time after, he brought an
action against sir Chaloner Ogle, who had been president of the above
court-martial, and had a verdict in his favour for one thousand pounds
damages, as it was also proved that he had been kept fourteen months in
the most severe confinement before he was brought to his trial. The
judge, moreover, informed him that he was at liberty to bring his action
against any of the members of the said court-martial he could meet with.
The following part of the affair is still more remarkable.

Upon application made by lieutenant Frye, sir John Willes, lord chief
justice of the common pleas, issued his writ against admiral Mayne and
captain Rentone, two of the persons who had composed the above court-
martial, who happened to be in England, and members of a court-martial
then sitting at Deptford, and they were arrested on the breaking up of
the court. The other members resented highly what they thought an
insult; they met twice on the subject, and came to certain resolutions,
which the judge-advocate was directed to deliver to the board of Admiralty,
in order to their being laid before the king. In these resolutions they
demanded " satisfaction for the high insult on their president from all per.
sons, how high soever in office, who have set on foot this arrest, or in any
degree advised or promoted it ;" moreover complaining, that by the said
arrest "the order, discipline, and government of his Majesty's armies by
sea were dissolved, and the statute 13. Car. II. made null and void."

The altercations on that account lasted some months. At length the
court-martial thought it necessary to submit ; and they sent to lord chief
justice Willes a letter, signed by the seventeen officers (admirals and com-
manders) who composed it, in which they acknowledged that " the reso-
lutions of the 16th and 21st May, were unjust and unreasonable, and to ask
pardon of his lordship and the whole court of common pleas, for the
indignity offered to him and the court." This letter judge Willes read in
the open court, and directed the same to be registered in the remembrance
office, " as a memorial to the present and future ages, that whoever set
themselves above the law, will in the end find themselves mistaken." The
letter from the court-martial, and judge Willes's acceptation, were inserted
in the next Gazette, 15th November, 1746.

APPENDIX. 383

No 19.

Garrisons held by Marine Officers.

The foreign, commands entrusted to the officers of the royal marines
have been few, and but of doubtful advantage to the individuals who were
selected to hold them, more than it has afforded them opportunities of
displaying much zeal, courage, and fidelity, under very trying circum-
stances.

Expedition to Botany Bay.

In 1787 a detachment under the command of major W. W. Tench, con.
sisting of 4 captains, 12 subalterns, 24 Serjeants and corporals, 8 drum-
mers, and 160 privates, making the whole of the military force, including
the major-commandant and staff, 212 persons, sailed from Portsmouth on
the 13th of May, on board the Sirius, Hyaena, and Supply, conveying
5G5 male and 192 female convicts, and 18 children. The expedition was
under the direction of captain Phillip of the royal navy, who was appointed
governor of the colony.

On the 21st of January, 1788, the fleet anchored in Botany Bay, and
on the 23rd moved to Port Jackson, where the convicts and the guard
were landed and established. The governor read his commission on the
7th of February, in presence of the marines and convicts ; and expressed
his thanks to the battalion in public orders for their exemplary conduct
from the time of embarkation. As winter was approaching, the marines
hastened the building of a temporary barrack, and the plan of a town was
laid out by the governor.

Island of Ascension.
When St. Helena became the prison of Napoleon, the occupation of
Ascension necessarily followed ; and sir George Cockburn, the commander-
in-chief on the station, immediately sent an officer with a number of men
under his command to hold the island. But the lords commissioners of
the Admiralty were not long in forwarding a different establishment, and
a detachment of marines was sent from England, under major Campbell, to
form the garrison. It was in October 1823 that major Nicolls succeeded
to the command of the Island of Ascension, which was then a mere rock
overrun by immense rats, and incapable of producing any vegetation ;
having scarcely sufficient water for its small garrison, and the road from
the barracks to the spring which furnished the supply almost impassable
for the water-cart. But by the unremitted exertions of the marines on the
island, convenient roads were made, and water-tanks built, affording not
only an ample supply for the garrison, but for the ships of the African
squadron, and numerous merchant vessels that came to the island in dis-
tress. Vegetables were cultivated with so much success, that a plentiful
supply was obtained by our cruisers; and previous to the recall of major
Nicolls from his command in 1828, (on his promotion to the rank of

384 APPENDIX.

major in the corps,) he had so improved the cultivation of the island, that
there were 800 head of cattle of his own rearing, consisting of cows, oxen,
sheep, goats, and swine, besides about 500 that had been slaughtered.

The ingenuity and perseverance of the marines who served on the Island
of Ascension, and particularly those who wTere its earliest inhabitants,
convey to the admiring and astonished visitor of the colony a flattering
impression of the discipline and internal economy of the corps.

Captain William Bate succeeded major Nicolls, and this officer, after
years of exertion, vexation, and difficulty, died on the island. Captain
Tinklar was the next commandant; and this zealous officer soon became a
victim to his anxious desire to promote the welfare of the service. Cap-
tain Bennett was the next appointed ; but the period of that officer's com-
mand was even more brief than his predecessor, and he died in a still
more sudden manner.

The death of three commandants within so short a period leads us to
infer, that their removal was not entirely attributable to the malignity of
the climate,, for we do not find its fatal influence extending to the subor-
dinate ranks ; but we believe that the duties of the commanding officers
were of a most tantalizing character, involving contradictions, vexations,
and anomalies that but few constitutions could long resist in such a cli-
mate as that of Ascension.

The last officer of marines in command at this seemingly fatal colony
was captain R. P. Dwryer, and he all but shared the fate of his predeces-
sors ; for in little more than two years from his appointment, he was,
through the excitement and vexations inseparable from his duties, seized
with such severe illness, that, as the only chance of saving his life, he was
sent to England by the first ship that touched at the island. But some
time previous to his illness captain Dwyer had solicited permission to
resign his command, under the persuasion that no exertions, no line of
conduct however upright and honourable, could guarantee him from
annoyances which could not be overcome.

Thus ended the command which had been so long held by officers of
the royal marines on the Island of Ascension, — that gloomy cinder in the
distant ocean, which has been forced into its actual state of usefulness
and importance by the perseverance, the skill, and the zeal of the marines.
This fact so forcibly struck the Prince de Joinville when he visited the
island in the early part of 1843, that his royal highness observed to cap-
tain Dwyer, " The marines deserve great credit. They have performed
wonders here ; for out of nothing, less than nothing, you have created a
great deal,— a very useful little colony."

END OF VOL. I.

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